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Journal of Materials Science and Emerging Technologies

Editorial Article Volume: 1 & Issue: 1

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Use of Gallic Acid, Benzotriazole, Polyethoxylated Sorbitan Monooleate, Borate–Silicate Salts, Zinc–Aluminium Coatings, Vanadium Micro-Alloying, and Phosphoric Acid as Emerging Technologies in Construction Materials Science of Corrosion Inhibitors

Raja Rizwan Hussain*

Received : December 24, 2025 | Published : January 12, 2026

Citation: Hussain RR. Use of Gallic Acid, Benzotriazole, Polyethoxylated Sorbitan Monooleate, Borate–Silicate Salts, Zinc–Aluminium Coatings, Vanadium Micro-Alloying, and Phosphoric Acid as Emerging Technologies in Construction Materials Science of Corrosion Inhibitors. J Mater Sci Emerg Technol. 2026;1(1):1-2.

Corrosion inhibitors1 have become need of the time as a fast-emerging technology in construction materials science. This has happened due to the high demand of durable, long life, sustainable and safe infrastructure. Steel reinforced concrete (RC) structures, structural steel, metallic or RC pipelines etc. all can suffer from corrosion when exposed to harsh environment such as high temperature, humidity, chloride ions, acid attack and carbonation. If not protected from corrosion will result in enormous economic loss and will also raise safety issues. With emerging technologies in construction materials, a clear shift can be seen from traditional generally toxic inhibitors to non-hazardous, emerging, multi-dimensional, eco-friendly corrosion inhibitors.2 In this view, gallic acid,3 benzotriazole and polyethoxylated sorbitan monooleate,4 borate–silicate salts,5 zinc–aluminium coatings,6 vanadium micro-alloying7 and phosphoric acid8 present a next generation of corrosion inhibitors capable to fulfil the need for state of the art emerging technologies in construction materials.

With the passage of time awareness is being developed for use of organic green corrosion inhibitors. This is also being triggered by the environmental regulations becoming stricter with the passage of time as well as due to the demand for sustainable materials. In these lines, gallic acid3 is an environment friendly corrosion inhibitor composed of naturally occurring polyphenolic compounds. Its popularity is becoming stronger as green corrosion inhibitor for corrosion protection of steel rebars in concrete as well as in acidic environments. The strong nature of its hydroxyl and carboxyl groups make it capable to get adsorbed on the surface of rebar forming a strong protective film against corrosion. It is one of those bio-based emerging technologies of corrosion inhibitors which can protect RC structures from corrosion with minimal detrimental effect on the environment.

Yet another class of corrosion inhibitors are the benzotriazoles.4 They have been used as effective corrosion inhibitors since long time and still continue to play their vital role as an emerging technology by the integration with the latest construction materials. Benzotriazoles serve as standalone as well as hybrid and synergistic corrosion protection materials. Tween 804 are surfactant-based corrosion inhibitors that have a good capability to modify the interfacial transition zone especially in the porous construction materials. Tween 80 improves the wetting properties and gets adsorbed as a protective layer on the surface which makes it difficult for the harmful materials to reach the steel. It is worth mentioning that these class of inhibitors are also non-toxic and used even as food ingredients in some forms.

Borate-silicate salts5 are one of the best suited inhibitors for alkaline environments such as corrosion protection of steel bars embedded in concrete. They are dealt as an excellent emerging technology in construction materials being alternative to the chromate based inhibitors. They act as pH buffers, enhance the passivation and provide a long term corrosion protection to RC structures. Borate and silicate based corrosion inhibitors provide protection to both chloride and carbonation induced corrosion due to their dual action of chemical inhibition and stability to the passive film.

In addition to the above chemical corrosion inhibition, zinc-aluminium coatings6 provide a sacrificial protection emerging technology to the construction sector. In comparison to the conventional zinc coatings, they provide a combined galvanic protection along with the improved barrier in atmospheric corrosion as well as in marine environments. The use of zinc-aluminium coatings for buildings, bridges, coastal infrastructure etc. has proven its effectiveness as an emerging technology in construction materials as corrosion inhibitors.

Vanadium micro alloying7 proves the point that how even minor changes in the composition can produce drastic changes in the corrosion resistance improvement of construction materials. Vanadium refines the pores, the grain structure and improves the protective film properties. This is in correlation with the technological advancements of the modern construction world that rely not merely on the external protection but by the use of engineered materials. Phosphoric acid8 is a well-established rust converter that works by treating the surface of steel rebars. It is one of the emerging technologies in construction materials in conversion coatings. This technology develops phosphate layers on the surface of steel reinforcement bars and other construction steel surfaces which improves the passivation and adhesion properties.

Concluding the all above technologies of gallic acid, benzotriazole, poly-ethoxylated sorbitan monooleate, borate silicate salts, zinc aluminum coatings, vanadium micro alloying and phosphoric acid, it can be said with confidence that these technologies are no doubt the most emerging ones among the corrosion inhibitors available as construction materials. These novel approaches can lead to future multiscale modelling in materials science.9 Such hybrid organic and inorganic inhibiting materials can synergistically activate10 the corrosion protection working as advanced materials. The future of corrosion resistant structures lies not in a single resolution but in a synergistic and hybrid system which integrates the organic and inorganic approaches in corrosion metallurgy. These technologies impart long term durability, sustainability and multi-functionality to the infrastructure. They shift the afterwards maintenance to the pre-protection material design. As the technology emerges in the construction materials inhibitor sector, such innovations prolong the service life of infrastructure making them greener, smarter and more resistant to corrosion.

References

  1. A. Kadhim, A.A. Al-Amiery, R. Alazawi, M.K.S. Al-Ghezi and R.H. Abass. Corrosion inhibitors. A review. Int. J. Corros. Scale Inhib. 2021;10(1):54–67. doi: https://doi.org/10.17675/2305-6894-2021-10-1-3
  2. Mahmoud A. Ahmed, Sherif Amin and Ashraf A. Mohamed. Current and emerging trends of inorganic, organic and eco-friendly corrosion inhibitors. Royal Society of Chemistry, RSC Adv. 2024;14:31877-31920. doi: https://doi.org/10.1039/d4ra05662k
  3. Abdulrahman Alhozaimy, Raja Rizwan Hussain, Abdulaziz Al-Negheimish, DDN Singh and Mshtaq Ahmed. Kinetics and mechanism of gallic acid as an ecofriendly corrosion inhibitor for steel rebars in mortar. Nature Scientific Reports Journal, 5th most cited journal in the world. ISSN 2045-2322. 2024;14(1):Article number: 31015, online: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-82166-4. doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-82166-4
  4. Raja Rizwan Hussain, Abdulrahman Alhozaimy, Abdulaziz Al-Negheimish, DDN Singh and Mshtaq Ahmed. Synergistic effect of benzo triazole with polyethoxylated sorbitan monooleate in inhibiting corrosion of rebars and chloride diffusion through mortars. Nature Scientific Reports Journal. 5th most cited journal in the world, ISSN 2045-2322.2024;14. Article number: 15126. doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-65962-w
  5. Raja Rizwan Hussain, Abdulrahman Alhozaimy, Abdulaziz Al-Negheimish, DDN Singh and Mshtaq Ahmed. Synergistic protection of borate and silicate salts composite for controlling the chloride-induced pitting and uniform corrosion of steel reinforcement bars embedded in mortars. Nature Scientific Reports Journal. 5th most cited journal in the world, ISSN 2045-2322. 2024;14. Article number:7069. doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-57485-1
  6. Abdulaziz Al-Negheimish, Raja Rizwan Hussain, Abdulrahman Alhozaimy, and DDN Singh. Corrosion performance of hot-dip galvanized zinc-aluminum coated steel rebars in comparison to the conventional pure zinc coated rebars in concrete environment. Construction and building materials Journal, Elsevier. ISSN: 0950-0618. 2021;247. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.121921
  7. Raja Rizwan Hussain, Abdulaziz Al-Negheimish, Abdulrahman Alhozaimy and D.D.N Singh. Corrosion characteristics of Vanadium micro-alloyed steel reinforcement bars exposed in concrete environments and industrially polluted atmosphere. Cement and Concrete Composites Journal. ISI, Elsevier. Journal ISSN: 0958-9465, PII: S0958-9465(20)30234-1. 2020;113:103728. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp
  8. Abdulrahman Alhozaimy, Raja Rizwan Hussain, Abdulaziz Al-Negheimish, J. K. Singh and D.D.N Singh. Protection against Reinforcement Corrosion Using Phosphoric Acid-Based Rust Converter. American Concrete Institute ACI Materials Journal. ISI, Journal ISSN: 0889-325X, 2018;115(6):935-944. doi: https://doi.org/10.14359/51706943
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