Effect of sliding wear on tribocorrosion behaviour of stainless steels in a Ringer's solution

The dependence of the tribocorrosion of stainless steels AISI 304L and SS 3M® orthodontic archwires sliding against corundum in a Ringer's solution on applied normal force, and sliding velocity, has been investigated using in situ electrochemical noise measurements. Applied normal force and sliding velocity were found to greatly affect current and potential during fretting-corrosion. An increase in normal force and sliding velocity induce an increase in current and a decrease in potential accelerating the depassivation rate of the tested stainless steels. The fluctuations in potential and current during fretting-corrosion are more pronounced at increasing sliding frequency than at increasing applied normal force. Sliding wear affects the repassivation behaviour of the tested materials by increasing the anodic current in the wear track area.