Abstract
The electrochemical behaviour of Fe and C-steel samples in oxalic acid solutions was studied by the use of cyclic voltammetry. Two peaks were observed; the first one was the anodic peak and the second one an unexpected reductive dissolution peak which could be observed in the cathodic branch of cyclic voltammograms of all electrodes studied. The carbon content was found to increase the active dissolution of steels and to decrease their tendency towards passivation. The inhibitive efficiency of phenyl phthalimide derivatives on the active dissolution of Fe and steel samples in 0.1 M oxalic acid were investigated.