Vibha Tripathi, Dwarika Prasad, Rajnish Maithani, Zaki Safi, Nuha Wazzan
The corrosion inhibition performance of Tradescantia spathacea L. water extract on AISI 410 stainless steel was evaluated in 0.5 M hydrochloric acid through gravimetric and electrochemical methods. Tradescantia spathacea L. is a rapidly growing weed known for its competitive nature, often outcompeting nearby vegetation through aggressive nutrient uptake from the soil. The adsorption characteristics of the extract were examined using Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models, with the results indicating predominantly monolayer adsorption that closely follows the Langmuir model. Potentiodynamic polarisation measurements suggested that TSWE mainly suppresses the anodic dissolution reaction, identifying it as a predominantly anodic-type inhibitor. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy further supported this behaviour, as reflected by the Nyquist plots, which exhibited an inhibition efficiency of 90.93% at the same concentration. Surface characterisation using SEM, EDX, FT-IR, UV – Vis and AFM revealed a smoother and less damaged surface in the presence of the extract, confirming the formation of a protective barrier layer on the steel. Contact angle measurements indicated a notable increase in surface hydrophobicity after inhibitor addition, providing further evidence of improved surface coverage. In addition, LC – MS analysis enabled the identification of major phytochemical constituents responsible for strengthening the metal – inhibitor interactions.