Dry Sliding Wear Behaviour of Ti-6Al-4V Alloy Consisting of Bimodal Microstructure

Abstract

In the present paper, dry sliding wear behaviour of Ti-6Al-4V titanium alloy consisting of bimodal microstructure sliding against EN-31 steel at different sliding velocities (0.3, 0.6 and 0.9 m/s) and applied loads (60, 80 and 100 N) has been studied using a multiple Tribo tester and the results are presented. Two wear mechanisms have been identified irrespective of the applied load: oxidative wear occurs at the lowest sliding velocities and delamination wear occurs at the highest. Results indicated that by increasing the sliding velocity a transition from oxidative wear to delamination wear occurs with a corresponding minimum in the loss of volume due to wear. These results have been described by the analysis of the wear debris and that of the worn specimens using XRD, optical microscopy, FESEM and interpreted based on the metallurgical characteristics of titanium alloys which influence the wear resistance.