Synergistic inhibitive effect of a hybrid zinc oxide-benzalkonium chloride composite on the corrosion of carbon steel in a sulfuric acidic solution

Zinc oxide and quaternary ammonium-type surfactants have been separately recognized for their anti-corrosive efficiencies. Their composite, not investigated so far, could provide a synergetic anti-corrosion effect. In this respect, the aim of this study is to synthesize a composite material consisting of zinc oxide and benzalkonium chloride (ZnO-BAC) in varying mass ratios (3:1, 1:1, and 1:3). The inhibitory properties of the ZnO-BAC composite against carbon steel corrosion in a 0.5 M sulfuric acid solution were assessed under ambient conditions. First, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used to examine the chemical structure of the prepared composite. Then, the corrosion inhibitive performance of the devised inhibitors was screened using electrochemical, hydrogen collection, and weight loss measurements. Further, the surface morphology was examined using a scanning electron microscope, both before and after immersion in the corrosion medium. The electrochemical measurements indicate that the prepared inhibitor exhibits a predominant cathodic inhibition behavior and the maximum inhibition efficiency, approximately 91.9%, was achieved for one-to-one mass ratio. Similar results were obtained from weight loss and hydrogen evolution measurements, which showed that the ZnO-BAC composite reduced the corrosion rate of carbon steel by 69.9% and 64.9%, respectively. Finally, molecular dynamics and an adsorption equilibrium model were used to elucidate the mechanism of corrosion inhibition by the ZnO-BAC composite, which exhibits a high adsorption energy on the iron surface.