Copper is one of the most important nonferrous materials having
a wide range of uses. Copper-based alloys are used in many
environments and applications due to their desirable properties,
such as electrical and thermal conductivity, ease of fabrication
and joining, mechanical properties, and resistance to biofouling
[1]. Copper-based materials are frequently intentionally or unintentionally
exposed to chloride solutions. However, Cu is susceptible
to corrosion in chloride media [2,3]. One approach to
preventing Cu corrosion is the use of corrosion inhibitors. Among
the corrosion inhibitors used in practice, benzotriazole (BTAH)
was found to be widely employed for Cu protection in various
media [2,4–7] (and the refs. therein). Mercapto compounds are also
potentially effective Cu corrosion inhibitors [6,8,9]. Different studies
using various experimental setups contribute to an understanding
of how and why organic compounds inhibit the corrosion
process [2,6]. However, inhibitor action is frequently reported only
empirically without detailed examination.