Buchweishaija, Joseph; Mhinzi, G. S.
Description:
The inhibitive effect of the gum exudate from Acacia seyal var. seyal on the corrosion
of mild steel in drinking water was investigated using potentiodynamic polarization and
electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques. The results obtained show
that gum exudates could serve as effective inhibitors for the corrosion of steel in
drinking water network. The percentage inhibition increases with increasing the
concentration of the gum at 30 oC. The percentage inhibitor efficiency above 95 % was
attained at gum concentration ≥400 ppm. The corrosion rates of steel and inhibition
efficiencies of the gum exudates obtained from impedance and polarization
measurements were in good agreement. Potentiodynamic polarization studies clearly
reveal that the gum behaves predominantly as an anodic inhibitor. The study also shows
that the inhibition efficiency was insignificantly affected by the temperature rise of the
medium.