Prop-2-en-1-one Derivatives as Corrosion Inhibitors for Copper in 1 M HNO3

Inhibition of corrosion of copper in nitric acid by prop-2-en-1-one derivatives has been studied using weight loss and electrochemical measurements. It was found that the prop-2-en-1-one derivatives act as a good corrosion inhibitor for copper in all concentrations of the prop-2-en-1-one derivatives. The inhibition action depends on the concentration of the prop-2-en-1-one derivatives in the acid solution. Results for weight loss and electrochemical measurements indicate that inhibition efficiency increases with increasing inhibitor concentration. Polarization curves revealed that these compounds are mixed type inhibitors. The adsorption of prop-2-en-1-one derivatives on the surface of the copper specimens obeys Temkin adsorption isotherm. Some thermodynamic and kinetic parameters for the corrosion process were estimated, and the values support the results obtained. Some quantum chemical parameters and the Mulliken charge densities for prop-2-en-1-one derivatives were calculated by the DFT (density function theory) semi-empirical method to provide further insight into the mechanism of inhibition of the corrosion process.