Investigation of corrosion inhibition effect and adsorption activities of Cuscuta reflexa extract for mild steel in 0.5 M H2SO4.

The corrosion inhibition nature of Cuscuta reflexa fruit extract, belonging to the family of Piperaceae, has been analyzed on mild steel in 0.5 M H2SO4 with the help of weight loss studies, potentiodynamic polarization, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy techniques. The C. reflexa extract contains 3‑methoxy‑3,4,5,7‑tetrahydroxy flavone, which decreases the corrosion rate of mild steel in acidic medium. The maximum corrosion inhibition efficiency was observed at 500 mg/L inhibitor concentration. The adsorption study of C. reflexa extract on mild steel surface has been conducted using UV, FTIR, AFM, SEM, and DFT.