2-Mercaptobenzoxazole as a copper corrosion inhibitor in chloride solution: Electrochemistry, 3D-profilometry, and XPS surface analysis

2-Mercaptobenzoxazole (MBOH) was studied as a corrosion inhibitor for Cu in 3 wt.% NaCl solution using EIS, a potentiodynamic curve, 3D-profilometry, and XPS measurements. It was shown that Cu corrosion in solution containing MBOH follows kinetic-controlled and diffusion-controlled processes and that MBOH is a mixed-type inhibitor. The diffusion coefficient of the Cu ions travelling through the solid surface layers was estimated to be on the order of 10(-15)-10(-44) cm(2)s(-1). It was also demonstrated that the Cu(I)-MBOH complex is formed on the Cu surface and that the thickness of this surface layer is 1.4 +/- 0.4 nm. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.