Electrochemical investigation of <i>Musa acuminata</i> peel extract as an eco-friendly corrosion inhibitor for reinforcement bars in 1M HCL

Steel corrosion, manifested as rust, oxide scales, and other surface deposits, remains an inevitable, pervasive, and persistent issue in thermo-mechanically treated (TMT) steel manufacturing industries and in civil construction applications, detrimentally affecting surface integrity, durability, and economic performance. Acidic cleaning (HCl) is extensively adopted to eliminate these contaminants; however, it often causes metal loss. To alleviate this, corrosion inhibitors are incorporated in acidic solution to reduce metal dissolution. Employing green inhibitors for corrosion control provides a sustainable, cost-effective, and low-toxicity alternative to synthetic inhibitors, with reduced environmental and human health impacts. This study investigates the effectiveness of Musa acuminata peel extract as a green inhibitor for TMT rebars in 1 M HCl using chemical, electrochemical, spectroscopic, and surface analyses, which remains unexplored. The findings demonstrated that the maximum inhibition efficiency obtained was 84.71% (weight loss). FTIR confirmed the presence of adsorption-active sites, including heteroatoms (O and N) and π-electrons, potentially responsible for corrosion inhibition. UV-Vis showed substantial changes in electronic transitions before and after corrosion, confirming steel-inhibitor complex formation, indicating adsorption of phytochemical compounds on steel. AFM and FE-SEM revealed reduced surface roughness with inhibitor, suggesting effective surface protection.