AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF THE EFFECT NANO-SILICA MADE FROM NATURAL SAND ON THE CORROSION RATE OF LOW CARBON STEEL

This study demonstrated the effectiveness of laboratory-prepared nano-silica derived from Iraqi natural sand using sol-gel technology in providing effective corrosion protection. The inhibitor was evaluated on low-carbon steel surfaces using dynamic polarization, Tafel plots, polarization curves, and weight loss. Concentrations of 400-1000 ppm and temperatures of 25-55°C were used for the study. The results indicated that the synthesized inhibitor was highly effective in reducing corrosion by forming a thin film on the surface of A106 Grade B steel. while the weight loss ranged from 95.8-76.4% in 1M-HCl medium. Characterization methods such as FTIR, SEM, XRD, and AFM were used to study the preparation process and evolution of the protective layer. The results indicated the stability of the protective activity of the inhibitor. The performance was described as economical, sustainable, scalable, highly efficient, and low toxicity