Improving the wear resistance of Ti–6Al–4V/TiC composites through thermal oxidation (TO)

• Published in: Wear 2010-08, Vol.269 (7), p.590-601
• Main Authors: Dalili, N., Edrisy, A., Farokhzadeh, K., Li, J., Lo, J., Riahi, A.R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abrasion; Applied sciences; Diffusion; Diffusion layers; Exact sciences and technology; Friction, wear, lubrication; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Inelasticity (thermoplasticity, viscoplasticity...); Machine components; Mechanical engineering. Machine design; Oxidation; Oxides; Oxygen diffused zone; Physics; Solid mechanics; Structural and continuum mechanics; Thermal oxidation; Titanium base alloys; Titanium carbide; Titanium matrix composite (TMC); Tribolayer; Wear; Wear mechanism; Wear resistance
• ISSN: 0043-1648; 1873-2577
• DOI: 10.1016/j.wear.2010.06.006

This study employed thermal oxidation (TO) treatment as a way of improving the wear resistance of Ti–6Al–4V/10 vol.% TiC composites (TMCs) – especially at high loading conditions. The study revealed the formation of a uniform oxide layer (2.6 ± 0.35 μm thick) supported by an oxygen diffused zone (31.2 ± 11.6 μm deep) on the composite's surface when thermal oxidation was carried out at 800 °C for 20 min. The dry sliding wear behaviour of the TO-treated and untreated TMCs was investigated using a ball-on-disk tribometer within a load range of 2–10 N. According to the experimental results, different wear behaviours were identified for TMCs and TO-TMCs as a function of applied load. The TO-treatment significantly reduced the wear rates of TMCs, especially at high loading conditions, due to the presence of a hard oxide layer and diffused zone that not only enhanced the load-bearing capacity of the TMCs, but also hindered the abrasive effect of the TiC particles and the extensive plastic deformation of Ti matrix.