The term “inhibitor” refers to a material that reduces the rate of corrosion in an environment when added in trace amounts. As a result, the inhibitor functions as a catalyst for those delays. Inhibitors come in a wide variety of forms and formulations. The two most crucial considerations when choosing materials for industrial applications are cost and safety. Physical criteria are typically simple to achieve, but corrosion resistance presents significant material selection issues. To increase corrosion protection, a variety of organic or inorganic coatings can be applied; however, the financial consequences must be taken into account. Material costs are influenced by machinability, physical properties, and design specifications.  Deterioration typically begins with localized corrosion in materials that may otherwise withstand widespread corrosive effects. This localized type of deterioration is particularly harmful since it can accelerate stress corrosion cracking, and only happens in specific situations. Effective monitoring and early detection of localized corrosion require overcoming numerous challenges. Although corrosion‑resistant materials are available, their application can be challenging, and their costs are frequently higher. In many cases, adding corrosion inhibitors as a retrofit solution or as part of the original design provides a useful and cost‑effective way to deal with corrosion problems.

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1. Batis G, Rakanta E. Corrosion of steel reinforcement due to atmospheric pollution. Cem Concr Compos. 2005;27:269–275.
2. Singh RK, Latiff S, Thakur MK. Corrosion protection of polybutadiene-coated mild steel in marine water by nanocoating and filler compounds. Res Dev Mater Sci. 2017;1(1):1–7.
3. Gurten AA, Kayakirilmaz K, Erbil M. The effect of thiosemicarbazide on corrosion resistance of steel reinforcement in concrete. Constr Build Mater. 2007;21:669–676.
4. Singh RK. Comparative study of inhibition of mild steel and stainless steel in 20% HCl solution by some organic inhibitors. Bull Electrochem. 2007;23:113–117.
5. Baedecker AP, Reddy M. The erosion of carbonate stone by acid rain. U S Geol Surv. 2003. Available from: http://brr.cr.usgs.gov/projects/SW
6. Singh RK, Thakur MK, Latif S. Mild steel corrosion control by nanocoating and filler compounds in hostile environments. J Mater Sci. 2018;4(3):1–12.
7. Singh A, Agrawal M. Acid rain and its ecological consequences. Journal of environmental biology. 2007 Jan;29(1):15.
8. Singh RK, Udayabhanu G, Kumari R. Protection of mild steel by thiourea derivative as inhibitors in 20% HCl. Bull Electrochem. 2006;22:257–261.
9. O’Leary D. Sulphuric acid. 2000. Available from:

10. Singh RK, Alam N. Study the corrosion and corrosion protection of brass sculpture by atmospheric pollutants in winter season. Mod Appro Mater Sci. 2019;1(3):54–62.
11. Singh RK, Singh K, Bihari B. Corrosion and corrosion protection of carbon steel. Int J Energetic Mater. 2024;9(1):28–35.
12. Singh RK, Singh K, Bihari B. Corrosion and corrosion protection of carbon steel in petroleum industry. Int J Pet Petrochem Eng. 2024;9(1):1–8.
13. Singh RK. Corrosion mitigation of stainless steel in milk by Aloe vera juice. J Metall Mater Sci. 2012;54:77–85.
14. Shen Z, Wang X, Zhang R, Ho K, Cao J, Zhang M. Chemical composition of water-soluble ions and carbonate estimation in spring aerosol at a semi-arid site of Tongyu, China. Aerosol and Air Quality Research. 2011 Apr;11(4):360-8.
15. Singh RK, Misra S. Corrosion protection of stainless steel in CO₂ environment by nanocoating of zinc phosphate with DLC filler. J Metall Mater Sci. 2013;55:149–156.
16. Bertolini L, Carsana M, Pedeferri P. Corrosion behavior of steel in concrete in the presence of stray current. Corros Sci. 2007;49:1056–1068.
17. Singh RK, Misra S. Nanocoating for corrosion protection of metal in SO₂ environment. R R J Pure Appl Phys. 2014;2:1–8.
18. Sawada S, Kubo J, Page CL, Page MM. Electrochemical injection of organic corrosion inhibitors into carbonated cementitious materials: Part 1. Effects on pore solution chemistry. Corrosion Science. 2007 Mar 1;49(3):1186-204.
19. Singh RK. Corrosion of soils earthworms by corrosive pollutants and their protection by Aloe vera. Am J Environ Eng Sci. 2015;2(3):17–22.
20. Cui S, Han J. Corrosion resistance and wear resistance of plasma electrolytic oxidation coatings on metal matrix composites. Surf Coat Technol. 2007;201:5306–5309.
21. Singh RK. Corrosion protection of transport vehicles by nanocoating of decahydrobenzo[8] annulene-5,10-dihydrazone and SiC filler in H₂O, O₂ (moist), CO₂, SO₂ environments and weather change. J Metall Mater Sci. 2016;58:167–179.
22. Watkiss P, Eyre N, Holland M, Rabl A, Short N. Impacts of air pollution on building materials. London: Energy Savings Trust; 2000.
23. Singh RK. Corrosion protection of stainless steel in oil well recovery. Mater Sci Res India. 2009;6:459–466.
24. Syed S. Corrosion of materials. Emirates J Eng Res. 2006;11(1):1–24.
25. Singh RK. The corrosion protection of stainless steel in phosphate fertilizer industry. J Metall Mater Sci. 2010;52:173–180.
26. Mouli PC, Mohan SV, Reddy SJ. Rainwater chemistry at a regional representative urban site: Influence of terrestrial sources on ionic composition. Atmos Environ. 2005;39:999–1008. doi: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2004.10.036
27. Singh RK. Inhibition of the corrosion of mild steel in the pulp and paper industry. J Metall Mater Sci. 2011;53:411–418.
28. Fagerli H, Aas W. Trends of nitrogen in air and precipitation: Model results and observations at EMEP sites in Europe, 1980-2003. Environ Pollut. 2008;154:448–461. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2008.01.024

The term “inhibitor” refers to a material that reduces the rate of corrosion in an environment when added in trace amounts. As a result, the inhibitor functions as a catalyst for those delays. Inhibitors come in a wide variety of forms and formulations. The two most crucial considerations when choosing materials for industrial applications are cost and safety. Physical criteria are typically simple to achieve, but corrosion resistance presents significant material selection issues. To increase corrosion protection, a variety of organic or inorganic coatings can be applied; however, the financial consequences must be taken into account. Material costs are influenced by machinability, physical properties, and design specifications.  Deterioration typically begins with localized corrosion in materials that may otherwise withstand widespread corrosive effects. This localized type of deterioration is particularly harmful since it can accelerate stress corrosion cracking, and only happens in specific situations. Effective monitoring and early detection of localized corrosion require overcoming numerous challenges. Although corrosion‑resistant materials are available, their application can be challenging, and their costs are frequently higher. In many cases, adding corrosion inhibitors as a retrofit solution or as part of the original design provides a useful and cost‑effective way to deal with corrosion problems.

🔒 This is a subscription article

Full text is available to subscribers and institutional members. Please choose an option below to access it.

1. Batis G, Rakanta E. Corrosion of steel reinforcement due to atmospheric pollution. Cem Concr Compos. 2005;27:269–275.
2. Singh RK, Latiff S, Thakur MK. Corrosion protection of polybutadiene-coated mild steel in marine water by nanocoating and filler compounds. Res Dev Mater Sci. 2017;1(1):1–7.
3. Gurten AA, Kayakirilmaz K, Erbil M. The effect of thiosemicarbazide on corrosion resistance of steel reinforcement in concrete. Constr Build Mater. 2007;21:669–676.
4. Singh RK. Comparative study of inhibition of mild steel and stainless steel in 20% HCl solution by some organic inhibitors. Bull Electrochem. 2007;23:113–117.
5. Baedecker AP, Reddy M. The erosion of carbonate stone by acid rain. U S Geol Surv. 2003. Available from: http://brr.cr.usgs.gov/projects/SW
6. Singh RK, Thakur MK, Latif S. Mild steel corrosion control by nanocoating and filler compounds in hostile environments. J Mater Sci. 2018;4(3):1–12.
7. Singh A, Agrawal M. Acid rain and its ecological consequences. Journal of environmental biology. 2007 Jan;29(1):15.
8. Singh RK, Udayabhanu G, Kumari R. Protection of mild steel by thiourea derivative as inhibitors in 20% HCl. Bull Electrochem. 2006;22:257–261.
9. O’Leary D. Sulphuric acid. 2000. Available from:

10. Singh RK, Alam N. Study the corrosion and corrosion protection of brass sculpture by atmospheric pollutants in winter season. Mod Appro Mater Sci. 2019;1(3):54–62.
11. Singh RK, Singh K, Bihari B. Corrosion and corrosion protection of carbon steel. Int J Energetic Mater. 2024;9(1):28–35.
12. Singh RK, Singh K, Bihari B. Corrosion and corrosion protection of carbon steel in petroleum industry. Int J Pet Petrochem Eng. 2024;9(1):1–8.
13. Singh RK. Corrosion mitigation of stainless steel in milk by Aloe vera juice. J Metall Mater Sci. 2012;54:77–85.
14. Shen Z, Wang X, Zhang R, Ho K, Cao J, Zhang M. Chemical composition of water-soluble ions and carbonate estimation in spring aerosol at a semi-arid site of Tongyu, China. Aerosol and Air Quality Research. 2011 Apr;11(4):360-8.
15. Singh RK, Misra S. Corrosion protection of stainless steel in CO₂ environment by nanocoating of zinc phosphate with DLC filler. J Metall Mater Sci. 2013;55:149–156.
16. Bertolini L, Carsana M, Pedeferri P. Corrosion behavior of steel in concrete in the presence of stray current. Corros Sci. 2007;49:1056–1068.
17. Singh RK, Misra S. Nanocoating for corrosion protection of metal in SO₂ environment. R R J Pure Appl Phys. 2014;2:1–8.
18. Sawada S, Kubo J, Page CL, Page MM. Electrochemical injection of organic corrosion inhibitors into carbonated cementitious materials: Part 1. Effects on pore solution chemistry. Corrosion Science. 2007 Mar 1;49(3):1186-204.
19. Singh RK. Corrosion of soils earthworms by corrosive pollutants and their protection by Aloe vera. Am J Environ Eng Sci. 2015;2(3):17–22.
20. Cui S, Han J. Corrosion resistance and wear resistance of plasma electrolytic oxidation coatings on metal matrix composites. Surf Coat Technol. 2007;201:5306–5309.
21. Singh RK. Corrosion protection of transport vehicles by nanocoating of decahydrobenzo[8] annulene-5,10-dihydrazone and SiC filler in H₂O, O₂ (moist), CO₂, SO₂ environments and weather change. J Metall Mater Sci. 2016;58:167–179.
22. Watkiss P, Eyre N, Holland M, Rabl A, Short N. Impacts of air pollution on building materials. London: Energy Savings Trust; 2000.
23. Singh RK. Corrosion protection of stainless steel in oil well recovery. Mater Sci Res India. 2009;6:459–466.
24. Syed S. Corrosion of materials. Emirates J Eng Res. 2006;11(1):1–24.
25. Singh RK. The corrosion protection of stainless steel in phosphate fertilizer industry. J Metall Mater Sci. 2010;52:173–180.
26. Mouli PC, Mohan SV, Reddy SJ. Rainwater chemistry at a regional representative urban site: Influence of terrestrial sources on ionic composition. Atmos Environ. 2005;39:999–1008. doi: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2004.10.036
27. Singh RK. Inhibition of the corrosion of mild steel in the pulp and paper industry. J Metall Mater Sci. 2011;53:411–418.
28. Fagerli H, Aas W. Trends of nitrogen in air and precipitation: Model results and observations at EMEP sites in Europe, 1980-2003. Environ Pollut. 2008;154:448–461. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2008.01.024