Fabrication of the First Disposable Three‐dimensional Paper‐based Concentration Cell as Ammonia Sensor with a New Method for Paper Hydrophobization by Laser Patterned Parafilm®

A new, simple and low‐cost method for patterning hydrophobic barriers in porous support such as paper by Parafilm® has been introduced. This method is then used for electrochemical paper‐based ammonia sensor construction. Ammonia sensor is based on electrochemical concentration cell which ammonia reaction with electrolyte in halves cell caused in concentration gradient and therefore potential difference dependent on ammonia concentration. The effect of concentrations of the involved chemicals, time periods of the required processes, the presence of Faraday cage as well as the effects of different salts used in the salt bridge on the response of the sensor, were investigated in order to find the optimized conditions.     

Optical Gas Sensor Fabrication Based on Porphyrin-Anchored Electrostatic Self-Assembly onto Tapered Optical Fibers

Tapered optical fibers with nano-assembled coatings of thicknesses of order tens of nanometres were used for the detection of ammonia gas. The film coating was composed of alternate layers of tetrakis-(4-sulfophenyl) porphine (TSPP) and poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH), which were deposited using the electrostatic self-assembly process (ESA). Exposure of a PAH/TSPP nano-assembled non-adiabatic tapered optical fiber with a waist diameter of 10 µm to ammonia induced significant optical changes in the transmission spectrum of the optical fiber. The fiber optic sensor showed a linear sensitivity to the concentration of ammonia in the range of 10–100 ppm, with response and recovery times less than 100 and 240 sec, respectively. The 3σ limit of detection (LOD) was estimated to be ca. 2 ppm.     

Strong covalent bonding modulated graphene oxide/epoxy interfacial enhancement and advanced corrosion resistance

Abstract

Chemically functionalized graphene oxide [multi-amino functionalized graphene oxide (MAGO)] was achieved by building covalent bonds between graphene oxide (GO) and a small molecule containing benzene structure and multi-amino groups. Fourier transform infrared, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photo electron spectroscopy and TEM-EDX results certified that the molecule was successfully grafted onto GO nanosheets. Subsequently, functionalized GO was incorporated into waterborne epoxy (EP) coating through ball-milling method. This molecular design can significantly improve the dispersion of MAGO in EP matrix, as well as the compatibility and interaction between MAGO and EP. Compared with GO/EP, the water absorption of MAGO/EP decreased from 4.38 to 2.59%, the adhesion strength of MAGO/EP increased from 4.72 to 6.32?MPa after immersion of 40?days in 3.5% NaCl solution. Incorporation of 1?wt% of MAGO into EP matrix prominently improved the long-term corrosion resistance. The impedance modulus of GO/EP coating decreased by four orders after 40 days immersion, while that of MAGO/EP coating only decreased by one order. The impedance modulus was still 1.47?×?10⁸ Ω cm², and two-time constant wasn’t detected for MAGO/EP coating. This research developed a novel green anticorrosion coating with enhanced durability for metal protection.     

Evaluation of SARs for the prediction of skin irritation/corrosion potential–structural inclusion rules in the BfR decision support system†

The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) has developed a Decision Support System (DSS) to assess certain hazardous properties of pure chemicals, including skin and eye irritation/corrosion. The BfR–DSS is a rule-based system that could be used for the regulatory classification of chemicals in the European Union. The system is based on the combined use of two predictive approaches: exclusion rules based on physicochemical cut-off values to identify chemicals that do not exhibit a certain hazard (e.g., skin irritation/corrosion), and inclusion rules based on structural alerts to identify chemicals that do show a particular toxic potential. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the structural inclusion rules implemented in the BfR–DSS for the prediction of skin irritation and corrosion. The following assessments were performed: (a) a confirmation of the structural rules by rederiving them from the original training set (1358 substances), and (b) an external validation by using a test set of 200 chemicals not used in the derivation of the rules. It was found as a result that the test data set did not match the training set relative to the inclusion of structural alerts associated with skin irritation/corrosion, albeit some skin irritants were in the test set.     

Xanthione: A new and effective corrosion inhibitor for mild steel in sulphuric acid solution

The adsorption and inhibition effect of xanthione (XION) on mild steel in 0.5 M H₂SO₄ at 303–333 K were studied using gravimetric and UV–visible spectrophotometric methods. The results obtained show that XION acts as an effective corrosion inhibitor for mild steel in sulphuric acid and inhibition efficiency reaches 98.0% at a very low inhibitor concentration of 10 μM. Inhibition efficiency was found to increase with increase in XION concentration but decreased with temperature suggesting physical adsorption mechanism. Arrhenius law and its transition equation lead to estimate the activation parameters of the corrosion process. XION inhibits the corrosion of mild steel effectively at moderate temperature and adsorbs according to the Langmuir isotherm. Thermodynamic parameters governing the adsorption process have been calculated and discussed. The UV–visible absorption spectra of the solution containing the inhibitor after the immersion of mild steel specimen indicate the formation of a XEN–Fe complex. Attempt to correlate the molecular structure to quantum chemical indices was made using density functional theory (DFT).     

Protection of Copper Surface Against Corrosion by Cationic Surfactant in Seawater

The protection power of the cationic surfactant decylammonium acetate (DAA) in seawater has been studied to define the perfect conditions have to be found for using it as a corrosion inhibitor for copper surface. The adsorption isotherm of this surfactant on copper surface has been determined at different interval times at 30°C. The given isotherms have, in general, similar shapes exhibiting a Languimirian L-shape. The corrosion measurement has been determined according to weight loss method. The study declines that cationic DAA, in seawater, protects well the copper surface against corrosion when added with low concentrations, while high concentrations show bad inhibition efficiency. ICP spectroscopic analysis assures this result where high Cu% has been obtained in the presence of high DAA concentration.     

Corrosion inhibition of zinc in aqueous acidic media using a novel synthesized Schiff base – an experimental and theoretical study

Abstract

The kinetics of H₂ production during Zn corrosion in 0.5?M HCl without and with various additives of N,N'-bis-(1-hydroxyphenylimine)-2,5-thiophenedicarboxaldehyde (HPTD) was studied using gasometry and electrochemical techniques. The surface of the corroded Zn samples was investigated using SEM and Optical Profilometry. The rate of H₂ production (RHP) increased with the immersion time and temperature. Presence of HPTD mitigated RHP due to an adsorption process. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy showed that HPTD had a good inhibitive effect. Polarization data proved that HPTD acted as a surface-active mixed-type inhibitor. Some thermodynamic parameters were deduced and discussed. Theoretical calculations were also conducted to corroborate the capability of HPTD to protect Zn surface from corrosion process.     

Synthesis and performance of electroless Ni–P–TiCN composite coatings on Al substrate

Electroless Ni–P and Ni–P–TiCN composite coatings have been deposited successfully on Al substrates. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X‐ray (EDX) techniques were applied to study the surface morphology and the chemical composition of the deposited films. Moreover, X‐ray diffraction (XRD) proved that Ni–P and Ni–P–TiCN deposits have amorphous structures. The properties of Ni–P–TiCN/Al composite films such as hardness, corrosion resistance and electrocatalytic activity were examined and compared with that of Ni–P/Al film. The results of hardness measurements reveal that the presence of TiCN particles with Ni–P matrix improves its hardness. Additionally, the performance against corrosion was examined using Tafel lines and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy techniques in both of 0.6 M NaCl and a mixture of 0.5 M H₂SO₄ with 2 ppm HF solutions. The results indicate that the incorporation of high dispersed TiCN particles into Ni–P matrix led to a positive shift of the corrosion potential and an increase in the corrosion resistance for all aluminum substrates after their coating with Ni–P–TiCN. In addition, Ni–P–TiCN/Al electrodes showed a higher electrochemical catalytic activity and stability toward methanol oxidation in 0.5 M NaOH solution compared with that of Ni–P/Al. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Adsorption and Corrosion Inhibition Behavior of Schiff Base-Based Cationic Gemini Surfactant on Mild Steel in Formic Acid

The adsorption and corrosion inhibition behavior of synthesized Schiff base-based cationic gemini surfactant bis[p-(N,N,N-tetradecyldimethylammonium bromide)benzylidene]thiourea (14-S-14) on mild steel in 20% formic acid in the temperature range of 30°C to 60°C was evaluated using weight loss measurements, solvent analysis of iron ions and potentiodynamic polarization measurements. The synthesized inhibitor was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), and thin layer chromatography (TLC). The surface morphology of the corroded mild steel specimen was evaluated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive x-ray analysis (EDAX), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Thermodynamic/kinetic parameters were calculated to elaborate the adsorption and corrosion inhibition mechanism of the inhibitor. The inhibition efficiency of the compound was found to vary with inhibitor concentration, immersion time, and temperature. The adsorption of the compound on the steel surface was found to obey Langmuir adsorption isotherm.      

Influence of Molecular Weight on Mild Steel Corrosion Inhibition Effect by Polyvinyl Alcohol in Hydrochloric Acid Solution

The corrosion inhibition of mild steel in hydrochloric acid solution in the presence of three different molecular weights of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) designated as PVA-I, PVA-II, and PVA-III corresponding to 14,000, 72,000, and 125,000 g mol^?1, respectively, was investigated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, linear polarization resistance (LPR), and potentiodynamic polarization techniques at 25°C. It was found that PVA of different molecular weights inhibited the corrosion of mild steel in the acid environment. Inhibition efficiency (η%) increases with increase in concentration of the polymers. LPR measurements clearly show that inhibition efficiency increases with increasing molecular weight in the order PVA-III > PVA-II > PVA-I. Polarization curves indicate that PVA functions as a mixed inhibitor affecting both the anodic metal dissolution and cathodic hydrogen evolution partial reactions of the corrosion process. The experimental data obtained fitted well into Langmuir adsorption isotherm model. Physical adsorption mechanism is proposed from the thermodynamic (free energy of adsorption) parameters obtained.