Tribological Behavior of Electrochemically Etched AISI 316 Stainless Steel with a Textured Surface

In this work, AISI 316 stainless steel (316 SS) was electrochemically etched in four NaCl solutions (10, 15, 20, and 25 wt.%) to form textured surfaces. Surface morphologies, three-dimensional surface topographies, and surface profiles of the textured 316 SS samples were obtained by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and laser scanning confocal microscope (LSCM). Sliding friction tests of the textured 316 SS samples were conducted in air and under grease lubrication. The results suggested that the variable degrees of microtextured surfaces after electrochemical etching in 10, 15, and 20 wt.% NaCl solutions. The 316 SS samples etched in 15 and 20 wt.% NaCl solutions showed more promising tribological performance than other samples, as reflected by their friction coefficients, mass loss per unit distance traveled (mg/m), and wear morphologies.