Tribological and corrosion wear of graphite ring against Ti6Al4V disk in artificial sea water

Severe degradations result from the friction of two antagonists in sea water environment. It is proposed to evaluate materials resistance to wear with a tribocorrosion experimental set-up which is mechanically and electrochemically instrumented. The method is illustrated with graphite and Ti6Al4V. The deposition of graphite on Ti6Al4V samples is observed and modifies the contact characteristics. Processes of graphite wear due to mechanical effect are characterised. Observations clearly indicate that Ti6Al4V degradations depend on the electrochemical potential imposed and more precisely on the electrochemical conditions in the contact zone.