The inhibiting performance of sodium succinate (Na2C4H4O4) was evaluated as an organic environmentally friendly corrosion inhibitor for carbon steel rebars in 0.6 M Cl- simulated concrete pore solution. Potentiodynamic polarization (PDP) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements were utilized to evaluate the inhibitor performance at different temperatures and concentrations. The investigated corrosion inhibitor showed strong corrosion inhibition performance as it adsorbs on the surface of the rebar, creating a protective adsorption film. According to PDP, the inhibitor is classified as a mixed-type inhibitor with an inhibitor efficiency of 77, 69, 59, and 54% for 25, 35, 45, and 55 °C, respectively. EIS validated the PDP tests, showing that sodium succinate displaces the water molecules at the interface, creating an adsorption film by complexing with ferrous ions. The film thickness was calculated, and sodium succinate was able to produce a thicker protective film (span of nanometers) relative to the reference at every temperature. The adsorption of sodium succinate follows the Temkin adsorption isotherm. ΔG0ads was found to be -32.75 kJ/mol, indicating that the inhibitor adsorption is a combined physisorption and chemisorption process. Different surface characterizations were utilized to substantiate the adsorption of sodium succinate, these include scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and micro-Raman spectroscopy. Finally, quantum chemical calculations showed that the delocalized electrons in the carboxyl group have high HOMO energies and electrostatic potential, which facilitates the adsorption of sodium succinate corrosion inhibitor onto the carbon steel rebar surface.
Keywords: activation energy; alkaline solution; carbon steel; corrosion inhibitor; electrochemical impedance spectroscopy; quantum chemical DFT.