Journal Article

Erosion wear behavior of spark plasma-sintered Ti-6Al-4V reinforced with TiN nanoparticles

Ajibola, Olarewaju Olawale, Obadele, Babatunde Abiodun, Kganakga, Mokgoba Glodean, Olubambi, Peter Apata, Tuckart, Walter R., Prieto, German, Falodun, Oluwasegun Eso

2020

Overview

The extensive application of titanium alloys is delimited as their erosion wear properties deteriorate when exposed to erosive and harsh environments. The present research investigates the effects of TiN additions (2, 4, and 6 vol.%) on the Ti-6Al-4V alloy prepared by spark plasma sintering technique. Erosion wear behaviour of the composites was investigated by high-velocity solid particle erosion test and tribometer pin-on-disc friction module method. The duration of the test was 10 min, while the mass loss of the sample was recorded after 2-min interval. The surface analysis and phase identifications of the sintered composites were examined by optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. Microstructural analysis revealed a transformation from lamellar with β grain boundaries in Ti-6Al-4V alloy to bimodal structures upon addition of TiN nanoparticles. XRD patterns of the alloy indicated an increase in diffraction peaks from lower intensity to high intensity with an increase in TiN nanoparticle content. Erosion is visible in Ti-6Al-4V alloy, 4 and 6 vol.% TiN, but less severe with 2 vol.% TiN addition for all the test times. However, this is due to grain detachment of the hard phase regions between the matrix and the reinforcing phase of the composites. The results showed the presence of micro-voids on the eroded surfaces. It was found that Ti-6Al-4V alloy with TiN nanoparticle addition was resistant to erosion wear, while the recorded steady-state friction coefficients for all the samples range from 0.2 to 0.4. However, an increase in microhardness values ranges from 342 to 513 HV 0.1 .

• Publisher: Springer London,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: CAE) and Design / Coefficient of friction / Computer-Aided Engineering (CAD / Diffraction patterns / Engineering / Erosion resistance / Grain boundaries / Industrial and Production Engineering / Lamellar structure / Mechanical Engineering / Media Management / Microhardness / Microscopy / Microstructural analysis / Nanoalloys / Nanoparticles / Optical microscopy / Original Article / Particulate composites / Plasma sintering / Spark plasma sintering / Surface analysis (chemical) / Testing time / Titanium alloys / Titanium base alloys / Wear resistance / X-ray diffraction