Tribocorrosion – Insight into Material Degradation in Specific Environments

Abstract

Tribocorrosion is an irreversible surface degradation mechanism of a metallic and/or non-metallic material as a result of its physicochemical and mechanical interactions during relative motion (friction, sliding, impact, abrasion, erosion) in corrosive media. It encompasses synergistic effects between mechanical wear and chemical / electrochemical processes which interact with each other. Tribocorrosion processes lead to uneconomical material loss as well as to the decreasing of the following characteristics: durability, reliability, safety, performance, energy efficiency, pollution and health. Recent activity in tribocorrosion research aims at addressing the need to select or design new surfaces for future equipment as well as minimizing the operating costs and extending the life of existing machinery and medical devices. The work presents an overview and some experimental results from tribocorrosion tests of biomaterials and nanocomposite coatings in specific environments from physiological solutions to industrial environments.