Tribocorrosion behaviour of aluminium bronze in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution

•Tribocorrosion behaviour of aluminium bronze CuAl10Fe5Ni5 was of interest.•Environment 3.5 wt.% NaCl, sliding wear under alumina ball at 10 and 20 N loads.•Corrosion occurred as the selective dissolution of α phase in the eutectoid structure.•Contact situation yielded plastic deformation, material extrusion and abrasive wear.•Wear-corrosion interactions varied between the two loads (contact pressures). Tribocorrosion behaviour of aluminium bronze CuAl10Fe5Ni5 in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution was investigated in a pin-on-disc facility containing an electrochemical cell. Oxidising capacity and contact pressure to alumina counterbody were varied. Pure corrosion occurred as selective dissolution of α phase included in the eutectoid structure. Contact to counterbody introduced plastic deformation, extrusion of the material and abrasive wear. Wear-corrosion interactions varied between the two contact pressures, with lower material losses appearing at the higher pressure. The significant acceleration of material degradation by the interactions was not clearly reflected to kinetics or thermodynamics of corrosion. These results are presented and discussed here.