(46c) The Role of Surfactant Structures at the Metal/Electrolyte Interface for Corrosion Inhibition

By

Akshay Rajopadhye, Anoop Nautiyal, Premal Shukla, and Brij Moudgil

NSF I/UCRC Center for Particulate and Surfactant Systems

University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611

Abstract: The Center for Particulate and Surfactant Systems (CPaSS) at the University of Florida focuses on resolving issues that are important to energy, oil and gas and other industry sectors. The aim of this study is to understand the fundamental mechanism of corrosion inhibition of surfactant based inhibitors for oil transportation application.

Self-assembled surfactant structures formed on the surface of metal pipeline can impede the electrochemical reactions leading to the oxidation of steel (corrosion). We are using several characterization tools such as Atomic Force Microscopy, Electrochemical, and Spectroscopic techniques to examine the structure-property relationship of these surfactant films. The results of these investigations will enable us to gain deeper understanding of various factors, such as surfactant packing density, their molecular architecture, their mechanical strength, synergy with other additives etc., that govern the ultimate corrosion inhibition performance. We are developing correlations between the mechanical and electrochemical properties of surfactant films to improve their performance as corrosion inhibitors.