The effect of ceramic friction pairs on the tribocorrosion behavior of AISI 304 stainless steel in seawater
Industrial Lubrication and Tribology
ISSN: 0036-8792
Article publication date: 7 May 2019
Issue publication date: 22 August 2019
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to study the tribocorrosion behavior of 304 stainless steel (SS) sliding against SiC and Si3N4 counterparts in artificial seawater.
Design/methodology/approach
The tribocorrosion behavior of 304SS sliding against SiC and Si3N4 balls in artificial seawater has been investigated. The tests were conducted using a ball-on-disk rig equipped with an electrochemical workstation. The friction coefficient, surface morphology, wear volume and current density were determined.
Findings
When 304SS sliding against SiC ball, a smooth surface with a silica layer was formed on the top, which led to the low friction coefficient, current density and small wear volume. For 304SS-Si3N4 tribo-pair, a lot of metal debris was scattered on contact surfaces leading to high friction coefficient, current density and big wear volume.
Research limitations/implications
This research suggests that the lubrication effect of silicon-based ceramics is related to counterpart specimen in artificial seawater.
Practical implications
The results may help us to choose the appropriate ceramic ball under seawater environment.
Originality/value
The main originality of the work is to reveal the tribocorrosion behavior of 304SS sliding against SiC and Si3N4 balls, which help us to realize that the Si3N4 ball as water-lubricated ceramics could not exhibit lubrication effect when coupled with 304SS in artificial seawater.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No: 11475236).
Citation
Fan, N., Chai, L., Wang, P. and Liang, J. (2019), "The effect of ceramic friction pairs on the tribocorrosion behavior of AISI 304 stainless steel in seawater", Industrial Lubrication and Tribology, Vol. 71 No. 6, pp. 779-786. https://doi.org/10.1108/ILT-10-2018-0377
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited