Analysis of the tribocorrosion mechanisms in a pin-on-plate combination on the example of AISI304 steel

The article undertakes the attempt to present the integrated description of tribocorrosion phenomena, including computational model and the results of experiments. Two different mechanisms, previously described in the literature, determining tribocorrosion in a pin-on-plate combination, were taken into account: – microcutting on the surface of a softer sample by the asperities of a harder counter-specimen, – cyclical fatigue of the deformed asperities located in the contact area. The above mentioned mechanisms of a surface destruction were identified experimentally by conducting a study on a pin-on-plate combination for AISI 304 steel at different nominal pressures (0.4 and 12 MPa) and types of corrosive environment (0.5 M solution H2SO4 and 3.5% solution of NaCl). The results of the experiment were also used to prove the efficacy of the original simulation model of identifying the mechanism of tribocorrosion and to forecast the rate of material loss. The model was created by combining the predictive methods for friction effects models and corrosive influences. The uniqueness of the solution involves the analysis of elementary interaction within concrete asperities of real contact area. The computations were possible owing to a numerical model of rough area proposed by the authors.