Tribocorrosion behaviour of two low-alloy steel grades in simulated waste solution

The tribocorrosion behaviour of two low-alloy steels not previously investigated, was examined in a Pin-on-Disc test device, both in the presence and absence of mechanical wear and/or corrosion in simulated waste solution. Volume losses through wear, corrosion and synergy processes were calculated and changes in the material surfaces investigated. The tribocorrosion behaviour and the volume losses caused by the synergy processes were found to be dependent on the steel grade, instead of applied potential. For both steel grades, material losses were caused by two main degradation mechanisms: wear and wear-induced corrosion. Total material losses and the percentage of wear-corrosion synergy were higher for the ferritic grade than for the martensitic grade. These results are presented and discussed in this paper.