Functionalized Carbon Allotropes as Corrosion Inhibitors
Abstract
The control of metallic degradation using corrosion inhibitor formulations and anticorrosive coatings has drawn increasing attention in the academia and industries. The inhibition of metallic corrosion using organic compounds has been successfully reported. Nevertheless, there has been a recent upsurge in the application of functionalized carbon allotropes, particularly carbon dots, carbon nanotubes, and graphene as anticorrosive agents. Their unique characteristics such as excellent inhibitive effectiveness, biocompatibility, mechanical properties, chemical stability, solubility, low cost and eco-friendliness have endeared them to corrosion scientists and engineers. Studies show that functionalized carbon allotropes adhere onto metallic substrates and hinder the interaction of aggressive solutions with the substrates. Carbon dots are reported to exhibit excellent protection capacities ranging from 84-99%, carbon nanotubes are mostly reported in coating systems and graphene-based materials have performed excellently as inhibitors and coatings in different media. This chapter summarizes recent investigations of functionalized carbon allotropes and their derivatives as efficient chemical inhibitors and coatings for the protection of metals/alloys.