Mild steel corrosion in chloride environment: effect of surface preparation and influence of inorganic inhibitors

The aim of the present work is to study the effect of surface mild steel preparation on its electrochemical behaviour in neutral chloride solution without and with an inorganic inhibitor. Various surface preparations are examined: alkaline degreasing, acid pickling and polishing. Open circuit potential measurements and potentiodynamic polarisations are used as corrosion monitoring techniques. The effect of chloride concentration is evaluated. The ability of inorganic inhibitors (Na2MoO4, NaNO2, Na2WO4 and Na2VO3) to stabilise the passive state of steel in chloride containing solutions is assessed by electrochemical and surface analysis techniques. The results reveal that, among the four inhibitors studied, the sodium molybdate is the best environmentally friendly corrosion inorganic inhibitor for steel.