Contradictory effect of chromate inhibitor on corrosive wear of aluminium alloy

The corrosive wear of D16T aluminium alloy in artificial acid rain was studied. A special tribometer with the linear reciprocating ball-on-flat geometry was used. The setup allows to measure simultaneously an open circuit potential, to carry out potentiostatic and potentiodynamic polarization studies of the alloy corrosion and to record the friction coefficient. It was established that the addition of strontium chromate inhibitor to the working environment decreases an electrochemical corrosion of the aluminium alloy under wear conditions, but in general accelerates its destruction due to insufficient wear resistance of a formed surface film.

Research highlights
► Corrosive wear of aluminium alloy in inhibited artificial acid rain was studied.
► Tribometer with linear reciprocating ball-on-flat geometry was used.
► Corrosion potential, polarization current and friction coefficient were measured.
► Chromate decreases corrosion of aluminium alloy under wear conditions.
► Chromate in general accelerates corrosive wear of the alloy in acid rain.