Mapping tribo-corrosion processes in dry and in aqueous conditions: some new directions for the new millennium

Tribo-corrosion is the term which describes the interaction between a tribological process with corrosion. This process may include sliding or abrasive wear, erosion by solid particles or liquid impact, or cavitation, fretting or fatigue. Corrosion environments may be complex; they can be alternately dry (i.e. at elevated temperatures) or wet aqueous conditions at room temperatures. Significant progress has been made in the study of tribo-corrosion in the past 20 years. Erosion–corrosion in particular has received much attention, because of the increasing prevalence in minerals processing and in the oil and gas industries. Mechanistic maps for such processes have been generated, showing the transitions between the tribo-corrosion regimes as a function of tribological and corrosive variables. This paper reviews the recent research in the area, from the inception of the initial wear map, to current work in the area. The significance of the various maps will be discussed, and their potential application to “real” environments will be described. New directions for the work will be highlighted with emphasis on extension to advanced materials and a wider range of variables.