Plant extracts as corrosion inhibitors against copper corrosion – An overview

• S. Bilgiç

Ankara University, Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry, 06100, Ankara, Turkey

Abstract: One of the corrosion prevention methods is to add chemical compounds called inhibitors in corrosive environments. Inhibitors can be inorganic or organic compounds. However, these compounds are dangerous for human health and environment because of their toxicity effects. In addition to obtain them is difficult and expensive. For this reason, corrosion inhibitors that are non-toxic, biocompatible, not harmful to human health and the environment, and which can be obtained easily and cheaply, are the subject of many researches in recent years. Scientists have focused on a new class of inhibitors such as plant extracts, fruit and vegetable extracts and essential oils. Plant extracts are the most studied class of these inhibitors, called green inhibitors. The protection effects of plant extracts are due to the adsorption of their molecules on the metal surface. They provide the metal with a protective film by blocking the active sites. The formation of film provides the metal surface with a physical barrier from corrosive media, and supplies protection effects from corrosive attacks. Copper is noble metal and as a result of this property, it shows to resist against to corrosion. However, certain conditions can cause corrosion on copper, such as polluted air, oxidizing acids, oxidizing heavy metal salts, sulfur ammonia and some sulfur and ammonia compounds. Therefore, the investigation of copper corrosion is significant. In this review, studies are summarized with plant extracts, which have an inhibitory effect on the corrosion of copper.

Keywords: corrosion, copper, inhibitor, plant extracts

Int. J. Corros. Scale Inhib., 2023, 12, no. 3, 1224-1260
doi: 10.17675/2305-6894-2023-12-3-24

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