<p>The mesoporous carbon, with its large surface area and adjustable pore structure, serves as an effective carrier for corrosion inhibitors, allowing for a controlled and sustained release that protects metal surfaces from degradation over time. This study focuses on improving the corrosion resistance of epoxy coatings by incorporating mesoporous carbon loaded with the corrosion inhibitor 2-methylamino ethanol (2-MAE). Prior to loading 2-MAE into mesoporous carbon, the effect of varying concentrations of this inhibitor on the corrosion resistance of carbon steel was evaluated in a 3.5 wt% NaCl solution. Results indicate that at a concentration of 38.3 mmol L^− 1 2-MAE achieved an inhibition efficiency of 84%. Adsorption studies revealed that 2-MAE adhered to the carbon steel surface following Langmuir’s adsorption isotherm. Additionally, the influence of unloaded mesoporous carbon on the corrosion resistance of epoxy coatings was investigated. The findings showed that mesoporous carbon loaded with an optimized inhibitor significantly enhanced the protective performance of the epoxy coating, achieving a coating resistance (R_c) of 918 ± 5 MΩ cm² and a charge transfer resistance (R_ct) of 800 ± 7 MΩ cm² after 60 days of immersion in saline water, compared to 61 MΩ cm² and 73 MΩ cm² for the unloaded mesoporous carbon, respectively.</p>