Tribological properties of a Fe3Al material in sulfuric acid corrosive environment

The tribological properties of a Fe3Al material in an aqueous solution of 1 mol/l H2SO4 corrosive environment sliding against a Si3N4 ceramic ball are studied using an Optimol SRV oscillating friction and wear tester in a ball-on-disc contact configuration. We investigate the effects of load and sliding speed on tribological properties of the Fe3Al material. The worn surfaces of the Fe3Al material are examined by a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and an X-ray photoelectron spectroscope (XPS). It is found that the Fe3Al material exhibits better wear resistance than 1Cr18Ni9Ti stainless steel in the sulfuric acid corrosive environment. The wear rate of the Fe3Al material is on the order of 10−13 m3/m and increases with increasing load, but does not vary below the sliding speed of 0.08 m/s then dramatically increases with increasing sliding speed. The friction coefficient of the Fe3Al material is in the range of 0.1–0.28, and slightly increases with increasing load, and does not vary with the increase of sliding speed. The Fe3Al material occurs tribochemical reaction with the H2SO4 aqueous solution in the friction process. Wear mechanism of the Fe3Al material is dominated by microploughing and corrosive wear.