Abstract <p>Deformation effects under severe torsion plastic deformation and ball milling lead to changes in the structure and chemical state of VNH-L type corrosion inhibitors on the basis of cyclohexylamine and benzotriazole. In the surface layers of powder particles, destruction of the six-membered hydrocarbon cycle and the tinting of tertiary nitrogen atoms occur. The electron density on the atom of protonated nitrogen increases in comparison with tertiary nitrogen, and it leads to acceleration of the motion of the inhibitor molecules and, as a result, to an increase in the electrical conductivity of corrosive media. The hydrophobicity of inhibitor molecules also increases. X-ray diffraction studies indicate the immutability of the crystal structure of inhibitors after deformation. The effect of mechanical activation on the properties of corrosion inhibitors is studied. The relative corrosion rate of iron in sulfate-chloride and borate media increases with decrease in hydrophobicity and the portion of protonated form of inhibitors in corrosive environments. The reason for the effect observed is the change in the electronic structure of the “anchor” nitrogen atoms responsible for the formation of a protective inhibitory layer on the metal surface. Cyclohexylamine (VNH-L-111) can be used to protect iron against corrosion in the absence of deformation effects. Mechanoactivated VNH-L-111 is a catalyst for iron corrosion in both sulfate-chloride and borate media. The protective properties of the inhibitors on the basis of benzotriazole and cyclohexylamine in relation to iron do not change as a result of mechanical activation. In this case, the inhibitor VNH-L-407 accelerates the corrosion of iron in sulfate-chloride medium. No apparent effect of the properties of inhibitors in relation to zinc on their chemical structure was revealed.</p>