CORROSION SCIENCE, vol.47, no.8, pp.1911-1931, 2005 (SCI-Expanded)
Cobalt-base (Stellite) alloys have seen extensive use in wear environments mainly due to their high strength, corrosion resistance and hardness. Co-base superalloys rely primarily on carbides, formed in the Co matrix and at grain boundaries, for their strength and the distribution, size and shape of carbides depends on processing conditions. Currently use of Stellite alloys has extended into various industrial sectors (e.g. pulp and paper processing, oil and gas processing, pharmaceuticals, chemical processing) and the need for improved information regarding corrosion (and often tribo-corrosion) of Stellite alloys has increased. It has been recognised that processing changes, which affect the microstructure of Stellite alloys, will most probably affect the corrosion performance.