This paper aims to
examine the efficiency
of 5-chlorobenzotriazole (5Cl-BTA) as a copper corrosion inhibitor
in acidic rain solutions with a pH value of 2.42 by the electrochemical
polarization method. 5-Chlorobenzotriazole acts similar to a mixed
type inhibitor, according to the potentiodynamic polarization measurements.
Results obtained in this research suggest that 5Cl-BTA is a good inhibitor;
it decreases anodic and cathodic reaction rates, and the highest inhibition
efficiency was 91.2%. The inhibitory effect of 5-chlorobenzotriazole
is explained by the formation of the layer on the copper surface.
Stability of the protective layer increased with inhibitor concentration.
Scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive analysis of X-rays
analysis confirmed that on the electrode surface, a protective layer
was formed. Adsorption of 5Cl-BTA obeys the Langmuir adsorption isotherm.
5Cl-BTA showed good inhibitory characteristics even when the Cl– ions were present in examined solutions.