Tribocorrosion Behavior of SAF 2205 Duplex Stainless Steel in Artificial Seawater

Tribocorrosion behaviors of SAF 2205 duplex stainless steel sliding against an Al₂O₃ counterpart were investigated in artificial seawater. The tribocorrosion mechanisms and synergistic actions between corrosion and wear were analyzed in this work. The results indicated that a higher load was beneficial for the formation of the σ intermetallic phase and strain hardening; thus, the hardness increased first, and then the pure mechanical wear resistance of SAF 2205 was improved by the hardening effect. The wear mechanisms of SAF 2205 were dominated by abrasive wear under lower loads and by abrasive wear and plastic deformation under higher loads. Furthermore, galvanic corrosion was established between the σ intermetallic phase/ferritic/austenitic and passive film (cathode)/fresh surface, which caused corrosion-accelerated wear. Thus, the total damage to SAF 2205 during tribocorrosion in artificial seawater was determined by the mechanical wear and synergetic effects between corrosion and wear. Therefore, improving hardness was an effective way to increase the tribocorrosion properties of metal materials, such as SAF 2205 and 316L.