The effects of particle angularity on low-stress three-body abrasion-corrosion of 316L stainless steel

•An empirical linear relationship is found between the current evolved and the loads and speeds.•Particle angularity has a profound effect on mechanism and rate of depassivation.•Increasing particle angularity had improved depassivation efficiency.•Characteristics of the tribolayer formed under abrasion corrosion changes with particle angularity.

This study investigates the effects of particle angularity on the tribo-electrochemical behaviour of 316L stainless steel under low-stress three-body abrasion–corrosion conditions. Different angularity particles were delivered to the interface between the samples and a rotating rubber counterface, while changes in current with time were potentiostatically monitored. Based on a linear relationship existed between tribological factors (load and speed) and the average current evolved, an empirical correlation is proposed and possible underlying mechanisms are discussed. The effects of particle angularity on the surface and sub-surface damage are also demonstrated. It was found that increasing particle angularity improved their depassivation efficiency.