Abstract
Extract of Bauhinia purpurea leaves was investigated as a corrosion inhibitor of mild steel in 1 N H2SO4 using conventional weight loss, electrochemical polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopic studies. The weight loss results showed that the extract of Bauhinia purpurea leaves is an excellent corrosion inhibitor, electrochemical polarization data revealed the mixed mode of inhibition, and the results of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy have shown that the change in the impedance parameters, charge transfer resistance, and double layer capacitance, with the change in concentration of the extract, is due to the adsorption of active molecules leading to the formation of a protective layer on the surface of mild steel. Scanning electron microscope studies provided the confirmatory evidence of an improved surface condition, due to the adsorption, for the corrosion protection.