Copper corrosion inhibition in acidic aqueous media through tolyltriazole application: performance analysis

Tolyltriazole (TTA) is recognized as an effective copper corrosion inhibitor in cooling systems due to its low toxicity and versatile properties. With the increasing focus on sustainable development, the employment of compounds of this nature has become increasingly widespread, driving the search for environmentally responsible alternatives. In this context, the aim of this work was to evaluate the efficiency of a corrosion inhibitor formulated with TTA on copper specimens in HCl 0.1 mol L-1 medium. The samples were exposed to the corrosive electrolyte with inhibitor concentrations ranging from 0 to 20 ppm. Electrochemical methods, including open circuit potential, potentiodynamic polarization, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were employed for corrosion monitoring. Overall, the results revealed that TTA behaves as a predominantly anodic inhibitor. Additionally, polarization curves demonstrated that within the Tafel region, the inhibitor adsorbs to the copper surface, following the Langmuir isotherm model. Regarding inhibitory effectiveness, the observed values ranged between 81.3 and 96.1%, while morphological analyses indicated the presence of nitrogen on the surface of the copper specimens after electrochemical tests, confirming the formation of a protective TTA film. In conclusion, this study highlights TTA's efficacy as a corrosion inhibitor, demonstrating its significant potential in safeguarding copper against acidic environments.