Inhibition of Corrosion of 3003 Aluminum Alloy in Ethylene Glycol-Water Solutions

In this study, the inhibiting effects of four types of inhibitors, including gluconate, cinnamate, molybdate, and nitrate, on corrosion of a 3003 aluminum (Al) alloy were investigated in ethylene glycol-water solutions that simulate the automotive coolant by various electrochemical measurements. It was found that the tested inhibitors were effective to inhibit corrosion of 3003 Al alloy under both static and turbulent flow conditions. They all behave as anodic inhibitors, which inhibit the Al alloy corrosion by passivating Al alloy and decreasing its anodic current density. A turbulent flow of the solution decreases the corrosion resistance of Al alloy and the inhibiting effect of the inhibitors. The inhibiting effect of the inhibitors is ranked as: nitrate > cinnamate > gluconate > molybdate.