The Influence of Fretting Parameters on Tribocorrosion Behaviour of AISI 304L Stainless Steel in Ringer Solution

Abstract

Medical applications where tribocorrosion has to be considered are orthopaedic and prosthetic implants, hip joints, amalgam restorative materials, and orthodontic brackets-archwire structures. In most cases, the degradation of biocompatible implant materials can lead to failure of medical therapy and cause a tissue inflammation. The dependence of the tribocorrosion of stainless steels AISI 304L orthodontic archwires sliding against corundum in Ringer�s solution on applied normal force, and sliding velocity, has been investigated using in-situ electrochemical current-potential measurements. Applied normal force and sliding velocity were found to greatly affect current and potential during fretting-corrosion. An increase in normal force and sliding velocity induce an increase in current and a decrease in potential accelerating the depassivation rate of the tested stainless steels. Sliding wear affects the repassivation behaviour of stainless steel by increasing the anodic current in the wear track area.