CORROSION AND WEAR OF 304-STAINLESS STEEL USING A SCRATCH TEST

A scratch test developed by the U.S. Bureau of Mines was used to wear the surface of 304 stainless steel. Corrosion of the freshly exposed surface was measured by the charge density consumed in reforming the passive film. Wear was measured by integrating the area between the profile of the scratch and the original surface. Neither scratch hardness (resistance to plastic deformation) nor wear were affected by the presence or absence of the passive film. For rubbing wear, a mode where the surface is plastically deformed and no debris is formed, the passive film remained adherent to the surface.