Effect of strain-induced martensite on the tribocorrosion of AISI 316L austenitic stainless steel in seawater

Abstract

Strain-induced phase transformation of austenite into martensite often results in the hardening and strengthening of metastable austenite stainless steel; thus, pin-on-disc friction experiments were carried out to investigate the effect of strain-induced martensite on the tribocorrosion of AISI 316L austenitic stainless steels in artificial seawater. The obtained results demonstrate that high load is beneficial for the formation of strain-induced martensite, which is closely related to the improvement of hardness and wear resistance of AISI 316L. Macroscopic and microscopic galvanic corrosion products were formed by martensite and austenite retained on the worn surface during sliding. Therefore, the total mass loss of 316L in artificial seawater was mainly due to mechanical wear and the synergistic effect of corrosion on wear, particularly at high load conditions. Thus, the tribocorrosion behavior of austenitic stainless steel was dominated by the formation and corrosion of strain-induced-martensite with metastable austenite.