An overview of corrosion and its control by the surfactants: a mini-review

In recent years, studies of the effectiveness of various surfactant inhibitors in inhibiting corrosion have been published. In acid media, surfactants have generally demonstrated inhibitory efficiency (IE%) ranging from roughly 60% to over 98%. The literature on the cationic, anionic, zwitter ionic, neutral, and Gemini surfactants used to prevent steel corrosion in a range of acidic environments is compiled in this review. Also, the relationship between the amphiphilic nature of surfactants and a lower corrosion rate when using various surfactant classes. The surfactant structures, corrosion rates (CR), free energy of adsorption (ΔG°ads), and acid medium-dependent inhibition efficiencies (IE%) are highlighted. By indicating the connection between surfactants’ molecular structure and adsorption mechanisms, the study presents the most reliable quantitative evaluation of surfactants’ effectiveness as corrosion inhibitors in a range of environmental media. The fact that the majority of inhibitors followed Langmuir adsorption isotherm suggested a systematic adsorption mechanism.