Phthalazin derivatives were tested as corrosion inhibitors of copper in 1 M H2SO4 using electrochemical polarization and weight loss techniques. This study monitored the evolution of the inhibitory effect of the phthalazin derivatives, according to their substituents. A significant decrease in the corrosion rate of copper was observed in the presence of the investigated inhibitors. The inhibition efficiency (%I) increases with increasing inhibitor concentration. The potentiodynamic polarization data indicated that, the inhibitors were of mixed type, but the cathodic effect is more pronounced. The slopes of the cathodic and anodic Tafel lines are approximately constant and independent on the inhibitor concentration. The mechanism of inhibition was discussed in the light of the chemical structure of the undertaken inhibitors. The adsorption on the copper surface follows the Langmuir isotherm model. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.