Corrosion Inhibition of Aluminum in 1M HCl Using Baobab Tree Pulp Extract

Abstract

A  corrosion study of Aluminum in 1M HCL was carried out using Baobab tree pulp 
extract as the potential corrosion inhibitor. Weight loss measurement was adopted to 
evaluate the inhibition efficiency of the extract, corrosion product and surface 
coverage. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and scanning electron 
microscopy (SEM) were used for surface morphology examination. The result of the 
inhibition efficiency shows that extract inhibition increases with an increase in 
inhibitor concentration and contact time, while corrosion rate decreases with increases 
in contact time and extract concentration. FT-IR result of the extract corrosion product 
shows that some of the compounds present in the FT-IR result of the extract appear in 
the corrosion product, which indicates activity has taken place between the metal 
surface and the inhibitor, as such reduces the rate of aluminum corrosion in 1m HCL. 
Also SEM image of the inhibited metal coupon appears to be smooth when compared 
with the uninhibited one, which proved the inhibitor reduces the rate of aluminum 
corrosion in 1m HCL. This implies that the extract can inhibit acid corrosion of 
aluminum.