Characterization and Tribological Performance of Titanium Nitrides in Situ Grown on Ti6Al4V Alloy by Glow Discharge Plasma Nitriding

Abstract

Titanium (Ti) nitrides were in situ grown on Ti6A14V alloy (TA) using a glow discharge plasma nitriding (GDPN). The morphology, chemical composition, phase and mechanical property of the obtained nitrided TA were analyzed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscope (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and nanoindentation tester, respectively. The tribological performances of un-nitrided and nitrided TAs were evaluated using a ball-on-plate wear tester, and the wear mechanism was also discussed in detail. The results show that the nitrided layer with the compound and diffusion layers is formed on the nitrided TA, which is composed of δ-TiN and α-Ti phases. The nanohardness and elastic modulus of nitrided TA are 6.05 and 143.13 GPa, respectively, higher than those of un-nitrided TA. The friction reduction and anti-wear performances of nitrided TA are better than those of un-nitrided TA, and the wear mechanism is primary abrasive wear, accompanying with adhesive wear, which is attributed to the formation of Ti nitrides with the high nanohardness and elastic modulus.

Keywords

glow discharge plasma nitriding (GDPN) / Ti6Al4V alloy (TA) / coefficient of friction (COF) / wear mechanism

References

[1] Yang X, Wang WL, Ma WJ, et al. Corrosion and Wear Properties of Micro-Arc Oxidation Treated Ti6Al4V Alloy Prepared by Selective Electron Beam Melting. T. Nonferr. Met. Soc. China, 2020, 30: 2 132-2 142.

[2] Rao KRM, Trinadh K, Nouveau C. Glow Discharge Plasma Nitriding of Low Alloy Steel. Mater. Today Proc., 2019, 19: 864-866.

[3] Chen K, Liu XP, Fan WJ, et al. Microstructure and Wear Behavior of Ti-6Al-4V Treated by Plasma Zr-Alloying and Plasma Nitriding. J. Wuhan Univ. Technol. -Mater. Sci. Ed., 2016, 31(5): 1 086-1 092.

[4] Wang I, Li Y, Wu X. Plasma Nitriding of Low Alloy Steels at Floating and Cathodic Potentials. Appl. Surf. Sci., 2008, 254(20): 6 595-6 600.

[5] Fu YD, Zhu XS, Li ZF, et al. Properties and Microstructure of Ti6Al4V by Deformation Accelerated Low Temperature Plasma Nitriding. T. Nonferr. Met. Soc. China, 2016, 26: 2 609-2 616.

[6] Avelar-Batista JC, Spain E, Housden J, et al. Plasma Nitriding of Ti6Al4V Alloy and AISI M2 Steel Substrates using D.C. Glow Discharges under a Triode Configuration. Surf. Coat. Technol., 2005, 200: 1 954-1 961.

[7] Lakshmi SG, Arivuoli D, Ganguli B. Surface Modification and Characterisation of Ti-Al-V Alloys. Mater. Chem. Phys., 2002, 76(2): 1870-190.

[8] Roliński E. Nitriding of Titanium Alloys ASM Handbook 4E, 2016 Ohio: ASM.

[9] Zhecheva A, Sha W, Malinov S, et al. Enhancing the Microstructure and Properties of Titanium Alloys through Nitriding and Other Surface Engineering Methods. Surf. Coat. Technol., 2005, 200: 2 192-2 207.

[10] Szymkiewicz K, Morgiel J, Maj Ł, et al. TEM Investigations of Active Screen Plasma Nitrided Ti6Al4V and Ti6Al7Nb Alloys. Surf. Coat. Technol., 2020, 383: 125 268.

[11] Yildiz F, Yetim AF, Alsaran A, et al. Plasma Nitriding Behavior of Ti6Al4V Orthopedic Alloy. Surf. Coat. Technol., 2008, 202(11): 2471-2476.

[12] Fernandes AC, Vaz F, Ariza E, et al. Tribocorrosion Behaviour of Plasma Nitrided and Plasma Nitrided + Oxidised Ti6Al4V Alloy. Surf. Coat. Technol., 2006, 200(22–23): 6 218-6 224.

[13] Batory D, Szymanski W, Panjan M, et al. Plasma Nitriding of Ti6Al4V Alloy for Improved Water Erosion Resistance. Wear, 2017, 374–375: 120-127.

[14] Samanta A, Bhattacharya M, Ratha I, et al. Nano- and Micro-Tribological Behaviours of Plasma Nitrided Ti6Al4V Alloys. J. Mech.l Behav. Biomed. Mater., 2018, 77: 267-294.

[15] Li KM, Song KJ, Guan J, et al. Tribocorrosion Behavior of a Ti6Al4V Alloy Electromagnetic Induction Nitride Layer in a Fluorine-Containing Solution. Surf. Coat. Technol., 2020, 386: 125 506.

[16] Shen HY, Wang L. Mechanism and Properties of Plasma Nitriding AISI 420 Stainless Steel at Low Temperature and Anodic (Ground) Potential. Surf. Coat. Technol., 2020, 403: 126 390.

[17] Dasireddy VDBC, Likozar B. CO_x-Free Hydrogen Generation Via Decomposition of Ammonia Over Copper and Zinc-Based Catalysts. Fuel, 2017, 196: 325-335.

[18] Tang J, Meng MH, Liang X. Gas Diffusion Electrode with Platinum/Titanium Nitride-Carbon Nitride Nanocatalysts for the Energy-Saving and Environment-Friendly Electrodeposition of Manganese Dioxide. J. Clean. Prod., 2016, 137: 903-909.

[19] Chen SH, Cheng MM, Guo Z, et al. Enhanced Atmospheric Ammonia (NH₃) Pollution in China from 2008 to 2016: Evidence from a Combination of Observations and Emissions. Environ. Pollut., 2020, 263: 114 421.

[20] Osman KA, Yılmaz V, Ünver H, et al. Slot Milling of Titanium Alloy with Hexagonal Boron Nitride and Minimum Quantity Lubrication and Multi-Objective Process Optimization for Energy Efficiency. J. Clean. Product., 2020, 258: 12 073.

[21] Yang YL, Zhao GJ, Zhang D, et al. Improving the Surface Property of TC4 Alloy by Laser Nitriding and Its Mechanism. Acta. Metall. Sin. (English Letters), 2006, 19(2): 151-156.

[22] Zhang XY. Functional Coating on Medical Titanium Alloy Surface, 2019 Beijing: Machinery Industry Press.

[23] Yetim AF, Yildiz F, Vangolu Y, et al. Several Plasma Diffusion Processes for Improving Wear Properties of Ti6Al4V Alloy. Wear, 2009, 267(12): 2 179-2 185.

[24] Vasconcellos MAZ, Hinrichs R, Javorsky CS, et al. Micro-Raman Characterization of Plasma Nitrided Ti6Al4V-ELI. Surf. Coat. Technol., 2007, 202: 275-279.

[25] Yuan BG, Du JF, Zhang XX, et al. Microstructures and Room-Temperature Compressive Properties of Ti6Al4V Continuous Multistep Hydrogenation. Int. J. Hydrogen Energ., 2020, 45(46): 25 567-25 579.

[26] Wang QQ, Liu ZQ, Wang B, et al. Stress-Induced Orientation Relationship Variation for Phase Transformation of α-Ti to β-T’i during High Speed Machining Ti-6Al-4V. Mater. Sci. Eng. A, 2017, 690: 32-36.

[27] Fouquet V, Pichon L, Straboni A, et al. Nitridation of Ti6Al4V by PBII: Study of the Nitrogen Diffusion and of the Nitride Growth Mechanism. Surf. Coat. Technol., 2004, 186: 34-39.

[28] Bhushan B. Nanotribology and Nanomechanics: An Introduction, 2008 Berlin: Springer.

[29] Barbieri FC, Otani C, Lepienski CM, et al. Nanoindentation Study of Ti6Al4V Alloy Nitrided by Low Intensity Plasma Jet Process. Vacuum, 2002, 67: 457-461.

[30] Li JX, Pang XX, Fan AL, et al. Friction and Wear Behaviors of Ti/Cu/N Coatings on Titanium Alloy Surface by DC Magnetron Sputtering. J. Wuhan Univ. Technol. -Mater. Sci. Ed., 2017, 32(1): 140-146.

[31] Cui ZD, Zhu SL, Man HC, et al. Microstructure and Wear Performance of Gradient Ti/TiN Metal Matrix Composite Coating Synthesized using a Gas Nitriding Technology. Surf. Coat. Technol., 2005, 190: 309-313.