Tribocorrosion of stellite 6 in sulphuric acid medium: electrochemical behaviour and wear

Tribocorrosion of stellite 6 in sulphuric acid was studied with a pin-on-disc tribometer through test conditions of intermittent friction. The occurrence of a mechanism involving mechanical depassivation during friction and further repassivation during the latency period between two successive friction steps was demonstrated. Polarization curves measurements and wear measurements by weight loss together with microtopography surveys of the wear track allowed to determine the relation giving the evolution of the wear with the duration of the latency period, and the kinetic law ruling the electrochemical repassivation mechanism.