Experimental and theoretical evaluation of N, N-Bis(2-pyridylmethyl)aniline as a novel corrosion inhibitor for mild steel in hydrochloric acid

The inhibition performance of a pyridine derivative with more than one pyridine ring, N, N-Bis(2-pyridylmethyl)aniline (BPA), for mild steel in 1.0 M HCl was evaluated by weight loss, electrochemical measurements and scanning electron microscopy methods. Then the experimental results were confirmed by quantum chemical calculations and molecular dynamics simulations methods. It was found that BPA behaved as a mixed type inhibitor, retarding both anodic metal dissolution and cathodic hydrogen evolution reactions. The adsorption process of BPA obeyed the Langmuir isotherm and the thermodynamic parameters were discussed. The scanning electron microscopy study proved that BPA can exhibit good inhibition ability by forming a protective film on the mild steel surface.