Abstract
The inhibitory action of an extract of Hemidesmus indicus leaves as a potential corrosion inhibitor for steel in H2SO4 solutions was examined using conventional mass loss, gasometric techniques, electrochemical polarisations and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The results revealed that the extract of Hemidesmus indicus leaves performed well as an inhibitor for the corrosion of the metal employed in an accelerating medium. The inhibition efficiencies for all the experimental techniques employed increased with increasing the concentration of the plant extract but decreased with a rise in temperature. Both the cathodic hydrogen evolution and the anodic dissolution of mild steel were inhibited, hence the active molecule of the extract studied acted as a mixed-type corrosion inhibitor.