The inhibition behaviours of propargyl alcohol (2-propyn-1-ol) and potassium sodium tartrate and their synergistic effects on corrosion of 3003 aluminum alloy in 0.5% NaCl solution have been studied using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and Tafel polarization methods. It was concluded that the inhibition efficiencies increased with increase in the concentrations of the inhibitors. For propargyl alcohol and tartrate ion the optimum in the inhibition efficiencies using EIS method was observed for inhibitors concentrations close to 10(-3) M. Both the inhibitors obeyed the Langmuir isotherm and the thermodynamic calculations revealed that the adsorption of inhibitors was of physical nature. The electrochemical results illustrated that tartrate ion and propargyl alcohol have significant synergistic effects on corrosion inhibition of 3003 aluminum alloy. The optimum ratio of concentration for tartrate to alcohol was 5:2. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.