Journal of Emerging Trends in Engineering and Applied Sciences: Research Areas

Abstract:
The effect of the extract of African Black Velvet Tamarind on the corrosion of mild steel in 0.5M HCI solution was studied using weight loss technique at 30oC, 40oC and 50oC. Velvet Tamarind extract inhibited the corrosion of mild steel in 0.5M HCI solution and the inhibition efficiency increased with increasing concentration of the extract and temperature. The inhibition is attributed to the adsorption of the extract on the surface of the mild steel coupon. The high content of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) in the extract must have been responsible for the its corrosion inhibiting effect. The result showed that African Black Velvet Tamarind extract could serve as an effective, non-toxic and a temperature resistant corrosion inhibitor of mild steel in hydrochloric acid. Apart from being environmentally friendly and ecologically acceptable, Velvet Tamarind extract is inexpensive, readily available and renewable. It should therefore be recommended to corrosion engineers or scientists to replace the toxic organic inhibitors added to acid solutions, widely used in industrial acid cleaning, acid descaling, acid pickling and oil well acidizing, to restrain corrosion attack on metallic materials most especially, on mild steel.

Keywords: African black velvet tamarind; corrosion; inhibition; mild steel; vitamin C.

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