Influence of microstructure evolution on tribocorrosion of 304SS in artificial seawater

•Microstructural evolution determines the extent of synergistic effects.•Microstructural evolution influences the wear resistance of 304SS.•Increasing the martensite content will change the dominant corrosion mechanism.•Delamination and abrasive wear work together to mainly mass loss of 304SS.

The influence of microstructure evolution on tribocorrosion of 304SS was investigated for the first time in artificial seawater. Strain-induced α′-martensite and twinning occurred during sliding friction at room temperature. The volume fraction of transformed martensite decreased with increasing load, making the dominant corrosion mechanism changed from α′-martensite to austenite as the dissolved anode during sliding. Meantime, the extent of transformed twinning peaked at 125 N, which controlled the wear resistance of 304SS. Quantitative calculation showed the role of microstructure evolution playing in the interplay of mechanical and electrochemical reactions, which eventually resulted in accelerated degradation of 304SS.