Ionic liquids as corrosion inhibitors for carbon steel protection in hydrochloric acid solution: A first review

Abstract

Carbon steel is one of the most worldwide applied metallic alloy and commonly used in severe industrial condition specially in the extraction and processing of oil/gas, which make this alloy highly susceptible to corrosion. The use of corrosion inhibitors is mandatory to protect carbon steel in such condition. Conventional corrosion inhibitors, have been for decades the main solution to reduce the corrosive effect on carbon steel. However, the substances used in traditional inhibitors are highly toxic to humans and a threat to the environment. In this context, new substances are being used, such as ionic liquids. This class includes a wide range of molten salts that, owing to their useful combinations of properties are highly effective for many practical applications. In this first review, important advances reported in recent literature are presented, in which the authors applied ionic liquids as corrosion inhibitors for carbon steel in hydrochloric acid. As a comparative effect, all these discussed results were obtained from potentiodynamic polarization tests.

Keywords

• Carbon steel
• Corrosion
• Corrosion inhibitors
• Ionic liquids