The role of tartrate ions in the phosphonate based inhibitor system

Abstract Corrosion of steel in oxygen saturated environment is inhibited by insoluble products, with the metals ions existing in the solution, which precipitate on the surface to form a three-dimensional protective layer. Addition of tartrate with organophosphonic acid (2-carboxyethylphosphonic acid) and zinc metal cation enhances the inhibition efficiency of steel in neutral environment. Using weight change method, polarization and AC impedance techniques determined the inhibition efficiencies. The composition of the protective layer was determined by using UV–VIS reflectance, UV–VIS luminescence and ESCA techniques.