Cellulose acetate fibers as corrosion inhibitor delivery system for carbon steel

This study evaluated the effectiveness of electrospun cellulose acetate fibers (CAFs) containing oleic acid (OA) for corrosion inhibition on carbon steel in chloride-rich environments. By varying the OA content, CAFs of different thicknesses were produced. Potentiodynamic polarization showed that steel coated with OA-containing CAFs had enhanced corrosion resistance, with higher corrosion potential (E_corr) and lower corrosion current density (i_corr). The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) results for the dip-coated sample showed an impedance increase of approximately 20× (from 2 to 40 kΩ cm²), and a capacitance reduction from 10⁻⁶ to 10⁻⁸ F cm⁻², compared to the untreated sample. The protective effect remained even after 48 h of exposure. These findings suggest CAFs as effective carriers for delivering OA inhibitors, offering a promising solution for corrosion mitigation in saline environments.