Objective To study the inhibition ability of propargyl alcohol, potassium iodide and compound in 10% H2SO4 for Q235 carbon steel and N80 sheet steel at different temperature. Methods In this paper, the inhibition performance of the single dosage was measured by static weight-loss method and electrochemical method for Q235 carbon steel at 60 ℃, and then the compound was studied. The experimental temperature was increased after optimized to research the corrosion inhibition for N80 steel in acid solution with different proportions. The inhibitory mechanism was investigated by isothermal adsorption model and corrosion kinetics. Results The results reveal that if propargyl alcohol and potassium iodide were used alone to inhibit the corrosion reaction in H2SO4 solution, the inhibition rate for Q235 carbon steel reached 90% at 60 ℃ when the concentrations were 120 mg/L and 1000 mg/L. There were two preferred ratios. The concentration A was propargyl alcohol 18 mg/L and KI 250 mg/L and that of B was propargyl alcohol 15 mg/L and KI 300 mg/L. The inhibition efficiency of them reached 98% at 60 ℃, that of A reached 93% at 80 ℃ for N80 and that of B reached 73% in H2SO4 environment at 100 ℃. The inhibition efficiencies decreased with increase in the temperature of the inhibitors. Conclusion The compounds sharply decrease after the concentrations of propargyl alcohol and potassium iodide and have good inhibition performance at high temperature. The synergistic effect between them is obviously good. Results obtained from weight loss and electrochemistry methods are in good agreement. The results show that propargyl alcohol and compounds are mixed type corrosion inhibitors. The adsorption of these inhibitors on mild steel surface is chemical adsorption and obeys Langmiur isotherm.