Several new possible
biobased corrosion inhibitors derived from
fatty hydrazide derivatives were analyzed using quantum chemical calculations
via the density functional theory method to investigate the chemical
reactivity and inhibition efficiencies against corrosion in metal
steel. The study confirmed that the fatty hydrazides showed significant
inhibitive performances based on their electronic properties, revealing
band gap energies of 5.20 to 7.61 eV between the HOMO and LUMO. These
energy differences decreased from 4.40 to 7.20 eV when combined with
substituents of varying chemical compositions, structures, and functional
groups, associated with higher inhibition efficiency. The most promising
fatty hydrazide derivatives are terephthalic acid dihydrazide combined
with a long-chain alkyl chain, which resulted in the lowest energy
difference of 4.40 eV. Further inspection showed that the fatty hydrazide
derivatives’ inhibitive performances increased with increasing
carbon chain length [from 4 (4-s-4) to 6 (6-s-6)], with a concomitant
increase and decrease in hydroxyl and carbonyl groups, respectively.
Fatty hydrazide derivatives containing aromatic rings also showed
increased inhibition efficiencies following their contribution to
improve the compounds’ binding ability and adsorption on the
metal surface. Overall, all data were consistent with previously reported
findings, envisaging the potential of fatty hydrazide derivatives
as effective corrosion inhibitors.