Effects of surface deformation on corrosive wear of stainless steel in sulfuric acid solution

Corrosive wear behaviors of austenitic, ferritic and duplex stainless steel in sulfuric acid solution were investigated. Transmission electron microsc opy with energy dispersive X-ray, scanning electron microscopy, microhardne ss tester, etc, were used to study the mechanism of surface deformation of stainless steel after corrosive wear tests. The result indicated that the c orrosive wear rate of austenitic stainless steel (ASS) was the highest and that of duplex stainless steel (DSS) was the lowest if the applied loads we re higher than 25 N. Because martensitic transformation induced brittleness and increased corrosion rate of ASS surface, the corrosive wear rate of AS S increased largely though the surface microhardness of ASS was largely inc reased during corrosive wear under high loads. The corrosive wear fate of f erritic stainless steel (FSS) also increased largely under high loads thoug h FSS had the best corrosive wear resistance under low loads. The corrosive wear rate of DSS had a linear relationship with loads. The abilities of su rface deformation strengthening of two phases were very different. The inve stigation indicated that surface deformation strengthening of DSS with prop er ratio of gamma phase was one of the important methods to improve corrosi ve wear resistance of stainless steel. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Scien ce S.A. All rights reserved.