Effects of dissolved oxygen in saline on corrosive wear of steel

Wear behavior in a corrosive electrolyte where the corrosion reaction is controlled by the diffusion of oxygen cannot be explained only by the removal of corrosion products. The thickness of the oxide layer which varies with test conditions greatly affects the wear rate as well as the corrosion rate. In saline containing O₂ of 1 p.p.m. surface activation was confirmed. Adhesive wear or fatigue wear was found to have a predominant influence on wear behavior. Lubrication by a small amount of oxidation product can be expected to be beneficial. In O₂-saturated saline damage caused by corrosion fatigue is important owing to the intensely corrosive environment. Under O₂-saturated conditions the wear rate is constant under a load P < 3 4 kg, whilst w increases with increasing P above 3 4 kg, which may be considered to be due to the change of contact conditions. Under conditions of O₂-1 p.p.m. wear rate decreases slightly with increase of load because of the more effective lubrication by corrosion products.