Prevention of Q235 Steel Corrosion using Waterborne Rust Inhibitor

Sorbitol, triethanolamine, sodium benzoate, boric acid, and sodium carbonate were mixed to prepare a waterborne rust inhibitor. A temperature and humidity accelerated corrosion test was applied to investigate the corrosion behaviour of waterborne rust inhibitor coated Q235 steel and original Q235 steel, which was carried out in a temperature and humidity test chamber (WSHW-1000) at a temperature of 80 °C and humidity of 95%. Compared with the original Q235, waterborne rust inhibitor coated Q235 has better resistance to corrosion in hot and humid ambient conditions. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and potentiodynamic polarization were measured with a three-electrode cell in 3.5% NaCl aqueous solution on a CHI760E potentiostat/galvanostat. Molecular dynamics was simulated to verify the synergistic corrosion inhibitory mechanism of sodium carbonate and triethanolamine. The test shows that the prepared waterborne rust inhibitor can reduce the tendency of Q235 to corrosion and can also effectively reduce the corrosion rate.