Tribocorrosion and Electrochemical Behavior of DIN 1.4110 Martensitic Stainless Steels After Cryogenic Heat Treatment

DIN 1.4110 martensitic stainless steel is largely used in the cutlery industry due to its high corrosion resistance associated with high mechanical resistance. However, when this material works under corrosion and wear conditions at the same time, their synergistic effect can accelerate the degradation process of the alloy. Cryogenic heat treatments have been proposed to improve the dimensional stability and mechanical properties, since they minimize the amount of retained austenite. The aim of this work is to study the effect of deep cryogenic heat treatment at -80 degrees C and at -196 degrees C on the corrosion resistance and tribocorrosion behavior of DIN 1.4110 martensitic stainless steel. The microstructure, hardness, corrosion resistance and tribocorrosion behavior were evaluated. Although the heat-treated samples presented higher hardness and lower corrosion current density (i(corr)) compared to samples in spheroidized condition, their material removal under tribocorrosion conditions increased, which demonstrated the synergy between corrosion and wear.