Andrey Yu. Luchkin

The behavior of low-carbon steels (LCSs), a high-strength steel and a nickel–chromium alloy in HCl solutions in the presence of N-containing organic substances has been studied. N-containing organic substances that comprise 1,2,4-triazole in their structure (substance I and substance II) provide comprehensive protection of various steel grades from corrosion and hydrogen absorption by the metal bulk in HCl solutions under both isobaric and isochoric conditions. All the compounds studied reduce, to varying degrees, the concentration of hydrogen adsorbed and absorbed by steel in HCl solutions. The most promising way to expand the scope of application is to use substance I in HCl solutions for protecting steels from high-temperature corrosion as a mixture with hexamethylenetetramine (HMT). In 2 M HCl (100 °C) under isochoric conditions, a mixture of compound I and HMT exhibited an excellent result: the degree of protection of LCS against corrosion was 99.5%. Substance I and its mixture with HMT protect steels not only in pure HCl solutions, but also in environments contaminated with hydrogen sulfide, which is especially important for the acid stimulation of wells in oil production.

The corrosion behavior of steels of various grades in sulfuric acid solutions with the addition of nitrogen-containing corrosion inhibitors has been studied. Compounds containing the 1,2,4-triazole moiety effectively protect low-carbon (St3, St20, 08PS), high-strength (70S2KhA), and stainless steels (1Kh18N9T) not only from corrosion but also from the hydrogen penetration into the metals in concentrated sulfuric acid solutions. In some cases, the degree of steel protection from corrosion by these compounds exceeded 99%. The possibility of creating mixed inhibitors for steel protection containing triazole derivatives and KI has been shown. The rate constants for the main steps of cathodic evolution and hydrogen penetration into steel in sulfuric acid solutions have been determined, and the subsurface concentrations of hydrogen in the metals have been calculated. Triazole derivatives were found to act as inhibitors of hydrogen absorption by steel in H₂SO₄ solution. The degree of protection of steel from hydrogen absorption can reach 97%. It has been shown that triazole derivatives act as complex inhibitors of steel corrosion in sulfuric acid solutions because, along with strong inhibition of metal corrosion, they prevent hydrogen absorption by steel.

The etching of iron alloy items in a H₃PO₄ solution is used in various human activities (gas and oil production, metalworking, transport, utilities, etc.). The etching of iron alloys is associated with significant material losses due to their corrosion. It has been found that an efficient way to prevent the corrosion of iron alloys in a H₃PO₄ solution involves the formation of thin complex compound films consisting of the corrosion inhibitor molecules of a triazole derivative (TrzD) on their surface. It has been shown that the protection of iron alloys with a mixture of TrzD + KNCS in a H₃PO₄ solution is accompanied by the formation of a thin film of coordination polymer compounds thicker than 4 nm consisting of TrzD molecules, Fe²⁺ cations and NCS⁻. The layer of the complex compound immediately adjacent to the iron alloy surface is chemisorbed on it. The efficiency of this composition as an inhibitor of iron alloy corrosion and hydrogen bulk sorption by iron alloys is determined by its ability to form a coordination polymer compound layer, as experimentally confirmed by electrochemical, AFM and XPS data. The efficiency values of inhibitor compositions 5 mM TrzD + 0.5 mM KNCS and 5 mM TrzD + 0.5 mM KNCS + 200 mM C₆H₁₂N₄ at a temperature of 20 ± 1 °C are 97% and 98%, respectively. The kinetic parameters of the limiting processes of hydrogen evolution and permeation into an iron alloy in a H₃PO₄ solution were determined. A significant decrease in both the reaction rate of hydrogen evolution and the rate of hydrogen permeation into the iron alloy by the TrzD and its mixtures in question was noted. The inhibitor compositions 5 mM TrzD + 0.5 mM KNCS and 5 mM TrzD + 0.5 mM KNCS + 200 mM C₆H₁₂N₄ decreased the total hydrogen concentration in the iron alloy up to 9.3- and 11-fold, respectively. The preservation of the iron alloy plasticity in the corrosive environment containing the inhibitor under study was determined by a decrease in the hydrogen content in the alloy bulk.

Etching of steel items in sulfuric acid solution is used in various human activities (oil and gas industry, metal production, utilities, transport, etc.). This operation is associated with significant material costs due to corrosion losses of the metal. It has been found that an efficient way to prevent corrosion of steel in sulfuric acid solution involves the formation of thin protective films consisting of corrosion inhibitor molecules of triazole class on its surface. It has been shown that the protection of steels with a 3-substituted 1,2,4-triazole (3ST) in H₂SO₄ solution is accompanied by the formation of a polymolecular layer up to 4 nm thick. The 3ST layer immediately adjacent to the steel surface is chemisorbed on it. The efficiency of this compound as an inhibitor of corrosion and hydrogen absorption by steel is determined by its ability to form a protective organic layer, as experimentally confirmed by XPS and AFM data. The kinetic constants of the main stages of hydrogen evolution and permeation into steel in the H₂SO₄ solution were determined. A significant decrease in both the reaction rate of cathodic hydrogen evolution and the rate of hydrogen permeation into steel by the triazole in question was noted. It has been shown that the preservation of the metal plasticity in the acid medium containing the triazole under study is due to a decrease in the hydrogen concentration in the metal bulk.