Application of polymer corrosion inhibitors in metal corrosion control: a review

Abstract

Corrosion can bring serious safety issues, environmental issues, and economic losses. The use of corrosion inhibitors is an important technology for controlling metal corrosion. Compared to small molecule corrosion inhibitors, polymer corrosion inhibitors have better film-forming ability, multifunctionality, viscosity, high temperature resistance, solubility flexibility, and more attachment sites, making them one of the hotspots for the future development of corrosion inhibitors. Here, we review the research progress of natural polymers, polymeric surfactant, polymeric ionic liquids, β-cyolodextrin-based polymers and polymeric nanocomposite as corrosion inhibitors. These types of polymer corrosion inhibitors do not require a high molecular weight to achieve their desired functions and exhibit excellent corrosion inhibition performance. However, from the current application situation, polymer corrosion inhibitors still have some drawbacks. For example, although natural polymer modified polymers do not pollute the environment, their extraction and separation operations are cumbersome, and it is difficult to accurately analyze the active components of polymer corrosion inhibitors; Chemically synthesized polymer corrosion inhibitors still pose a threat to the environment and are not conducive to ecological protection. Here, we review the scientific research of polymer corrosion inhibitors and discuss solutions to make them practical industrial corrosion inhibitors. The major points are the following: 1) Whether substances with good corrosion inhibition performance can be grafted onto the polymer has become a key point in preparing efficient and soluble polymeric corrosion inhibitors; 2) Research and optimization of polymer synthesis processes or extraction and modification methods of natural polymer from the perspectives of material sources, solubility, dosage, and composition; 3) Develop inexpensive, efficient, and environmentally friendly polymer corrosion inhibitors to promote their practical industrial applications. We aim to propose broad application prospects and development potential for polymer corrosion inhibitors in industry.