A fundamental quest of modern triboelectrochemistry is to unravel the prevailing failure mechanisms when surface interactions are operated in corrosive environments and to study how these influence the performance of materials and tools. Both system and materials oriented approaches are thus required to deal with the electrochemical and physicochemical changes of matter due to the influence of a mechanical sliding energy between the two contacting surfaces (i.e. tribocorrosion damage). In this chapter, metallic glass material concepts used in environments where tribocorrosion occurs are described. Concepts to act in opposition to wear and corrosion are briefly reported. In particular, a description is given of different groups of metallic glasses designed to withstand the effects of combined and uncoupled wear and corrosion. Metallic glass composition, structural effect, crystallization level, passive film formation, microhardness are often viewed as the most critical elements in the performance of tribocorrosion of metallic glasses. Interactions between wear and corrosion mechanisms are identified along with some models that aim to inform metallic glass selection and predict performance.
Part of the book: Metallic Glasses
Metallic glasses are relatively new materials with a large potential for applications in various technical and biomedical fields. However, for efficient use of these novel materials with an interesting combination of properties, it is necessary to fully characterize them for their mechanical and electrochemical properties. Studies on the effects of chemical parameters (pH, temperature, concentration of reagent) and tribological parameters (load, sliding speed, counterbody, contact configuration) on the kinetics of the reaction (i.e., the material removal rate) supply information on the dominant mechanisms governing the tribo-electrochemical behavior of metallic glasses. Although considerable efforts have been made to characterize their mechanical, corrosion, and magnetic properties, the study of their tribocorrosion patterns is in a rather unsatisfactory state, and very limited information is available. It is the purpose of this chapter to provide an overview of basic information on the tribo-electrochemical properties of most metallic glasses. This becomes crucial when such materials are to be considered in systems where solid surfaces are prone to mechano-chemical transformation processes.
Part of the book: Metallic Glasses
This first chapter aims at giving a brief framework for understanding the principles of electrochemistry in corrosion and tribocorrosion, enabling potential users and readers to quickly apprehend the electrochemical nature of corrosion. The subsequent chapter will provide additional details on the methods derived from these principles in a clear manner and ready-to-use format. In particular, the implementation of electrochemical techniques for the study of tribocorrosion allows, in situ and in real time, to monitor and control the corrosion conditions during wear and to quantify the corrosion kinetics. An introductory to some of the basic terms and concepts of electrochemistry and corrosion is first presented. Then, an overview of the thermodynamic and kinetic parameters of relevance to corrosion electrochemistry is highlighted. A description on how the electrical nature of corrosion reactions allows the interface to be modeled as an electrical circuit, as well as how this electrical circuit can be used to obtain information on corrosion rates. These prerequisites are necessary to better understand the surface reactivity of metals and other electronic conductive materials immersed in ionic electrolyte media whether or not subjected to mechanical stimuli.
Part of the book: Corrosion Inhibitors
The corrosion mechanism taking place in an aqueous phase with or without mechanical contact is electrochemical in nature. The electrochemical signal is one of the primary sources of information that relates to behavior in potential, current, and electrical charge of a corroding electrode. It arises from processes that cause corrosion and other electrochemical reactions. In a sliding contact in an ionic electrolyte medium, electrochemistry is more likely to interfere with the tribological behavior of tribocorrosion systems. In recent years, attempts by researchers have been made to control the material loss by electrochemical methods for various engineering systems. Applied online for monitoring in-situ uniform, localized, galvanic, or more forms of corrosion, such techniques are very convenient means to measure corrosion rate of materials. Such methods can also be used in different ways to evaluate their ability to protect materials (as inhibitors, protective layers, coatings). In this chapter, theoretical and experimental applications, fundamental aspects, limits of the electrochemical techniques for corrosion, and tribocorrosion monitoring are presented. Standards developed, so far, by various standardization organizations are reported. Fundamentals of traditional and advanced corrosion methods are described, focusing on their advantages, i.e. sensitivity to low corrosion rates, short experimental duration, and well-established theoretical understanding.
Part of the book: Corrosion Inhibitors