Abstract
The Mentha Piperita essential oil (MPEO) rich in anthraquinone,1-(p-fluorophen) as major compound (42.8 %) has been investigated as corrosion inhibitor for mild steel in 1 M HCl. weight loss, polarization curves (Tafel, Stern & Geary as well as Stern methods) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements were used to evaluate the inhibition performance of MPEO. The results obtained from different techniques were in best accord. The inhibiting efficiency, reaching circa 87 % at 0.7 g L-1 of MPEO, was found to increase with rise of inhibitor concentration, whereas the increase of temperature was in favour of its slow decrease. The adsorption data fitted well to Langmuir isotherm model and involved both physisorption. Scanning electron microscopic results testified the formation of a protective film onto the mild steel in the presence of MPEO.