(54d) Investigating Mechanical Properties of Surfactant Films at the Solid-Liquid Interface Using AFM

Corrosion is a well-known problem in the oil and gas sector and also in many other industries. Surfactant based inhibitors have been used for corrosion control in oil pipelines but their inhibition mechanism is still not fully known. Our group is studying surfactant corrosion inhibition mechanism by various characterization techniques (AFM, Electrochemical and Spectroscopic techniques). A better understanding of corrosion inhibition mechanism will lead to the design and development of not only cost-effective but also greener surfactants system for corrosion inhibition purposes.

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is an effective tool to study the barrier properties of surfactant films at the solid-liquid interface. Determination of mechanical and topographical properties of single and mixed surfactant coatings by atomic force microscopy (AFM) can delineate the role of physical vs. electrochemical barrier by such films in the corrosion inhibition process. . So far, the AFM data, obtained using a closed cell, indicate the effect of surfactant concentration and that of hydrocarbon chains interactions on the mechanical properties of cationic surfactant films. Ultimately, integration of the AFM and electrochemical results will reveal the correlation between the surfactant structures at the solid-liquid interface and their corrosion inhibition efficacy.