Electrochemical, Isotherm, and Material Strength Studies of Cucumeropsis mannii Shell Extract on A515 Grade 70 Carbon Steel in NaCl Solution

In this study, corrosion inhibition efficiency of Cucumeropsis mannii shell extract (CMSE) was tested on A515 Grade 70 carbon steel in 1.0 M NaCl solution. Potentiodynamic polarization (PDP), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and weight loss (WL) measurements were used to investigate the inhibition efficiency. Scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, atomic adsorption spectroscopy, and energy dispersive spectroscopy were used to characterize the carbon steel and extract. PDP and EIS measurements revealed maximum inhibition efficiency of 91.2% and 92.2%, respectively. Tafel plot confirmed inhibitor to be a mixed type. A monolayer adsorption of CMSE molecules occurred spontaneously by physisorption. Polarization resistance increased with increasing inhibitor concentration. WL measurement revealed decrease in corrosion rate with increasing concentration of corrosion inhibitor. Maximum Young modulus and hardness of 202.4 GPa and 112.3 BHN, respectively, were recorded for the carbon steel at a minimum corrosion rate and load. Pitting and uniform corrosion were formed on the carbon steel in the absence of CMSE. CMSE contains –OH, –OCH3, and –C-NH3 as active functional groups. In conclusion, Cucumeropsis mannii shell extract acted excellently as corrosion inhibitor for A515 Grade 70 carbon steel in 1.0 M NaCl.