The corrosion inhibition of brass in 0.2 M NaCl in the presence of 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT) and polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate (Tween-80) has been investigated using potentiodynamic polarization, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasma analysis. Analysis of the results revealed that the addition of MBT and Tween-80 inhibits the corrosion of brass in 0.2 M NaCl. Potentiodynamic polarization measurements showed that MBT acts as a mixed-type inhibitor and Tween-80 as an anodic inhibitor. Corrosion inhibition occurs through adsorption of the inhibitor on brass surface without modifying the corrosion mechanism. The adsorption of MBT and Tween-80 both follow Langmuir adsorption isotherm. Potentiodynamic polarization results suggested that the mixture of MBT and Tween-80 acts as a mixed-type inhibitor. Inhibition efficiency of 79.0 and 62.5% were obtained in the presence of optimum concentration of MBT and Tween-80, respectively. The addition of the mixture of MBT and Tween-80 enhanced the inhibition efficiency to 94.0% and showed a synergism of inhibition. XPS analysis indicated that MBT adsorbed on brass surface along with Tween-80 in the presence of the mixture of MBT and Tween-80. The results of solution analysis using ICP showed that the mixture of MBT and Tween-80 effectively controlled the dezincification of brass. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.