Inhibition of corrosion of steels with the exploitation of conducting polymers

Corrosion of steels causes a loss of about 121 billion dollars annually and half the iron produced at present is used for the replacement of the existing deteriorated structures. Corrosion, being an electrochemical phenomenon, can be tackled through the use of electrochemistry and conducting polymers. Stainless steels can be passivated by applying a potential of about 0.1 V versus SCE and a current of about 100 mu A/cm(2). These can be provided by a conducting polymer, emeraldine, which can be applied chemically on the surface of the stainless steel. Pre-treatments with some chelating agents can inhibit the corrosion of stainless steel from 0.1 M HCl for about 1 month.