CORROSION INHIBITION OF MILD STEEL BY FICUS EXASPERETA LEAF EXTRACT IN HCl SOLUTION

Abstract

The inhibitive effect of Ficus exasperata extract on the corrosion of mild steel in 1M HCl solution was investigated using weight loss and electrochemical techniques. Both qualitative and quantitative phytochemical screening was used to characterize the plant extract. The concentration of the inhibitor was varied from 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, and 1.0 g/l respectively, and the results show that the extract of Ficus exasperate (FE) is a good inhibitor for the mild steel in 1M HCl solution. The lowest corrosion rate of 1.89 mm/yr. was obtained at 300C, 1.0 g/l of inhibitor concentration compared to the blank with 39.01 mm/yr. The best inhibition efficiency obtained in weight loss experiment was 95.2% at 300C, and at a concentration of 1.0 g/l, while an efficiency of 97.4% was obtained same temperature but 0.2 g/l concentration for electrochemical methods. The linear polarization data show that the extract acted as mixed type inhibitor.