Investigation of the inhibition effect of trithiocyanuric acid on corrosion of copper in 3.0 wt.% NaCl

Highlights: ► Trithiocyanuric acid (TTCA) has good inhibition effect for copper in 3.0% NaCl. ► The compound acts as a mixed-type inhibitor. ► The SEM and EDX analyses support the weight loss, EIS, and polarization data. ► Molecular mechanics method simulates the adsorption model of TTCA on Cu surface. - Abstract: The inhibition effect of trithiocyanuric acid (TTCA) on corrosion behavior of copper in 3.0 wt.% NaCl solution was studied using weight loss, potentiodynamic polarization, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy at 298 K. Polarisation curves revealed that the studied inhibitor represents a mixed-type of inhibitor, and a maximum inhibition efficiency of 95.3% was achieved. An equivalent circuit is suggested based on analysis of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy data. Surface characterisation was performed using scanning electron microscope. The molecular dynamics method has also been used to simulate the adsorption model of TTCA on Cu (111) surface.