Effect of 6-Aminohexanoic Acid Released from Its Aluminum Tri-Polyphosphate Intercalate (ATP-6-AHA) on the Corrosion Protection Mechanism of Steel in 3.5% Sodium Chloride Solution

Abstract

A new corrosion inhibitor called ATP-6-AHA was elaborated, and its inhibition action on S235 low carbon steel in 3.5% sodium chloride (NaCl) was investigated using gravimetry, potentiodynamic polarization (PP), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The release of ecofriendly 6-aminohexanoic acid (6-AHA) from its established aluminum tri-polyphosphate intercalate (ATP-6-AHA) is investigated using electrochemical and surface characterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF). The results revealed that ATP-6-AHA is a good inhibitor, with an inhibition efficiency of approximately 70%. The efficiency is related to the passivation of a steel surface by a phosphate protective layer due to the synergistic effect of 6-AHA, as confirmed by a steel surface analysis conducted using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). This study suggests that the intercalation of 6-AHA as a sustainable organic molecule within the interlayer spaces of aluminum tri-polyphosphate can well serve as a good flaky inhibitor for protecting S235 low-carbon steel from corrosion in 3.5% NaCl.