Tribological behavior of different films on Ti-6Al-4V alloy prepared by plasma-based ion implantation

The tribological behaviors of TiN coating and TiN+TiC+Ti(C, N)/diamond like carbon (DLC), TiN/DLC, TiC/DLC multilayers on Ti 6Al 4V alloy prepared by plasma based ion implantation (PBII) were compared. Under the test conditions of counterbody AISI 52100, load 1 N and speed 0.05 m/s, the tribological properties of the alloy are improved by these films in the order of TiN, TiC/DLC, TiN/DLC and TiN+TiC+Ti(C,N)/DLC. Tribological behavior is affected by the conditions of surface modification and triboexperiments. The appearance of “peaks” in the wear dynamic resistance profiles may be due or correspond to the process of formation and breaking apart of transition films. The breakthrough of the DLC coated samples may start from partially wearing out, and end with joining piece dilamination. There are transition films on all counterbodies AISI 52100. When AISI 52100 counterbody is changed to Ti 6Al 4V, the wear of most modified samples is changed from only disc to both disc and ball abrasive dominated.

Evaluation of Microstructure and Wear Properties of Ti-6Al-4V Alloy Plasma Carbonized at Different Temperatures

Ti-6A1-4V （TC4） alloys were plasma carbonized at different temperatures （900, 950, and 1 000 ℃） for duration of 3 h. Graphite rod was employed as carbon supplier to avoid the hydrogen brittleness which is ubiquitous in traditional gas carbonizing process. Two distinguished structures including a thin compound layer （carbides layer） and a thick layer with the mixed microstructure of TiC and the a-Ti in carburing layer were formed during carburizing. Furthermore, it was found that the microstructure and the properties of TC4 alloy were significantly related to the carbonizing temperature. The specimen plasma carbonized at 950 ~2 obtained maximum value both in the hardness and wear resistance.

Microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of Ti-B-N coatings deposited by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition

Ternary Ti-B-N coatings were synthesized on AISI 304 and Si wafer by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) technique using a gaseous mixture of TiCl4,BCl3,H2,N2,and Ar.By virtue of X-ray diffraction analysis,X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy,scanning electron microscope,and high-resolution transmission electron microscope,the influences of B content on the microstructure and properties of Ti B N coatings were investigated systematically.The results indicated that the microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti-B-N coatings largely depend on the transformation from FCC-TiN phase to HCP-TiB2 phase.With increasing B content and decreasing N content in the coatings,the coating microstructure evolves gradually from FCC-TiN/a-BN to HCP-TiB2 /a-BN via FCC-TiN+HCP-TiB2/a-BN.The highest microhardness of about 34 GPa is achieved,which corresponds to the nanocomposite Ti-63%B-N (mole fraction) coating consisting of the HCP-TiB2 nano-crystallites and amorphous BN phase.The lowest friction-coefficient was observed for the nanocomposite Ti-41%B-N (mole fraction) coating consisting of the FCC-TiN nanocrystallites and amorphous BN

Influence of spark plasma sintering on microstructure and corrosion behaviour of Ti-6Al-4V alloy reinforced with micron-sized Si_3N_4powder

Ti-6 Al-4 V-Si3 N4 composites were effectively fabricated by spark plasma sintering(SPS) technique. The addition of Si_3 N_4 on Ti-6 AI-4 V was varied from 5% to 15%(wt fraction). The effect of Si_3 N_4 addition on the densification, microstructure, and microhardness and corrosion behaviour of Ti-6 Al-4 V was investigated.An increase in microhardness value was recorded from 325.46 HV_(0.1) to 585.73 HV_(0.1). X-ray diffraction(XRD) analysis showed that the intensity of diffraction peaks of Si3 N4 phase in the composites increased.The sintered Ti-6 Al-4 V reinforced with Si_3 N_4 compacts revealed the non-existence of intermediate phases, such as TiSi_2(titanium silicide) which was expected. SEM analysis of the spark plasma sintered composites revealed a and β phase microstructures in Ti-6 Al-4 V with uniform distribution of Si3 N4 particulates in the matrix. The corrosion resistance property of the material was improved by the addition of Si_3 N_4 from 0.986629 mm/year to 0.030547 mm/year.

Microstructure and Wear Behavior of Ti-6Al-4V Treated by Plasma Zr-alloying and Plasma Nitriding

A duplex treatment of plasma Zr-alloying and plasma nitriding was used to improve the tribological properties of Ti-6Al-4V. The microstructure of the Zr-N composite（alloyed） layer formed on Ti-6Al-4V and its hardness, friction and wear properties were investigated by using OM, SEM, GDOES, EDS, microhardness tester as well as ball-on-disk tribometer. The results of microstructural analysis show that the alloyed layer is compact and uniform and is mainly composed of ZrN, TiN_（0.3） and AlN. A very tiny adhesive and slight oxidation wear is the primary wear mechanism for the modified Ti-6Al-4V. The tribological property is improved significantly after the duplex treatment. The good combination of antifriction and wear resistance for modified Ti-6Al-4V is mainly attributed to the higher surface hardness of metal nitrides formed on the surface and enhanced supporting of the Zr-diffusing layer.

Synthesis of Ti_3SiC_2 by spark plasma sintering(SPS) of elemental powders

Ti 3SiC 2 materials have been fabricated by spark plasma sintering of the elemental powders with the addition of Al. At the heating rate of 80 ℃/min and under the pressure of 30 MPa, the ideal synthesis temperature of Ti 3SiC 2 is in the range of 1 1501 250 ℃. The addition of Al is in favor of the formation of Ti 3SiC 2. The synthesized compound has the molecular of Ti 3Si 0.8Al 0.2C 2 and lattice parameters of a=0.306 9 nm, c=1.767 0 nm. Its grain is plane-shape with a size of about 50 μm in the elongated dimension. The prepared material has Vickers hardness of 3.55.5 GPa(at 1 N and 15 s) and is as readily machinable as graphite’s.

Effect of Ti-Al on microstructures and mechanical properties of plasma arc in-situ welded joint of SiC_p/Al MMCs

The effect of Ti-Al on microstructures and mechanical properties of SiCp/Al MMC joints produced by plasma arc in-situ weld-alloying was investigated, in which argon-nitrogen mixture was used as plasma gases and Ti-Al alloy as filling composite. The results show that the formation of needle-like harmful phase Al4C3 is effectively prevented in the weld by in-situ weld-alloying/plasma arc welding with Ti-Al alloy sheet filler whose titanium content is more than 20%. The fluidity of molten pool is improved, and stable molten pool is gained for the addition of the Ti-Al alloy. The mechanical properties of welded joint are effectively enhanced by the compact-grain structure and the new reinforced composites such as Al3Ti, TiN, AlN and TiC welded joint. The test results of mechanical property show that the maximum tensile strength of welded joint gained by adding Ti-60Al alloy is up to 235 MPa. The factors influencing the tensile strength were also investigated.

Microstructure and wear resistance of Fe-Cr-Ti-C reactive plasma cladding coating

Fe-Cr-Ti-C composite powder was synthesized by precursor carbonization-composition process using the mixture of ferrotitanium, chromium, iron powder and precursor sucrose as raw material. And then the Fe-Cr-Ti-C coating was prepared by reactive plasma cladding method. Microstructure of the samples was observed by scanning electron microscope （SEM）, the phases were determined by X-ray diffraction （XRD）, and the wear resistance was evaluated under dry sliding wear test conditions at room temperature. Results indicate that the composite coating consists of primary austenite and dendritic eutectic austenite, chrysanthemum-shaped eutectic （Cr, Fe ） 7 C3 and TiC carbide. TiC presents the gradient distribution and different shapes in the coating, corresponding to equiaxial structure both in fusion zone and central zone, while it presents dendritic structure on the surface, respectively. The wear mass loss is insensitive to load for the coating while it increases rapidly for Q235 steel base metal in this test. The wear mass loss ofQ235 steel is 14 times as that of the composite coating under applied load of 40 kg.

RESEARCH ON PLASMA SMELTING OF ILMENITE

The process of Luda ilmenite smelting by plasma furnace has been studied by means of self-designed plasma torch. The prereduced Luda ilmenite was melted satisfactorily in plasma furnace to produce Ti enriched slag containing 90-98% TiO_2.

PLASMA SPRAYED Ti AND HA COATINGS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN APS AND VPS

Titanium (Ti) and hydroxyapatite (HA) coatings have been prepared via air (APS) and vacuum plasma spraying (VPS), and then their composition, structure, bonding strength and bioactivity were examined. The results obtained reveal that in APS process many of Ti were oxidized, but in VPS the oxidization was avoided. VPS T i coating possesses better bonding condition than APS Ti coating. As for HA coat ing, higher crystallinity has been obtained while the coating was deposited by V PS as compared with APS. The simulated body fluid (SBF) tests show that both of APS and VPS HA coatings possess good bioactivity. As compared with APS, VPS is r ecommended as a better method to deposit Ti and HA coatings that can be applied as hard tissue replacement implants.

Comparative study of the fabrication of ultrafine Ti(C,N)-based cermets by spark plasma sintering and conventional vacuum sintering

Spark plasma sintering (SPS) and conventional vacuum sintering (VS) wereemployed to fabricate ultrafine Ti(C,N)-based cermets. The shrinkage behavior, microstracture, andporosity and mechanical properties of the samples fabricated by SPS were compared with those of thesamples sintered by VS using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, universal testingmachine, and rockwell tester. The results are as follows: (1) The shrinkage process occurred mainlyin the range of 1000-1300 deg C during the VS process, and only a 0.2 percent linear shrinkage ratioappeared below 800 deg C; during the SPS process, a 60 percent dimensional change occurred below800 deg C as a result of pressure action. (2) By utilizing the SPS technique, it is difficult forobtaining fully dense Ti(C,N)-based cermets. Due to the much existence of pores and un-combinedcarbon, the mechanical properties of the sintered samples by SPS are inferior to sintered ones byVS. (3) grain size of the samples sintered by SPS is still below 0.5 urn, but not by VS; because oflow sintering temperature, there are no typical core/rim structures formed in the sintered samplesby SPS1; the main microstructures of the sintered samples by SPS2 are a white core/grey shellstructure, whereas by VS show a typical black core/grey shell structure.

Plasma-based ion implantation of nitrogen into Ti-6Al-4V: effect of implantation time and pre-or post-implantation aging on nitrogen distribution and microhardness

Presents the investigation of the effect of implantation time and pre or post implantation aging on nitrogen distribution and microhardness with the following findings: the colour of the surface is modified after implantation and it gets darker with the increase of implantation time, and is not affected by pre or post implantation aging; for every implanted sample, a peak is found in the near surface region of the nitrogen concentration depth profile determined by X ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS); The position of the peak is not affected by implantation time and pre or post implantation aging used; With the increase of implantation time, the surface nitrogen concentration increases, and the peak is heightened, but the speed of heightening decreases; The surface structure formed after the implantation may be more unstable and more readily oxidized in its subsequent exposure to air; The implanted samples can be protected against oxidation by immersing them in pure alcohol; and the immersion causes the surface nitrogen concentration to increase somewhat and the surface oxygen concentration to decrease in comparison with the exposure to air. The implanted samples exhibit higher hardness improvement factor especially at low plastic penetrations. The exposure to air causes the hardness improvement factor to increase. As the implantation time is increased, the hardness improvement factor increases (but at a decreased speed). Over long implantation time can induce a softening process because the hardness improvement effects are then unable to follow the effect of strength loss.

Characterization of phase transformation and microstructure of nano hard phase Ti(C,N)-based cermet by spark plasma sintering

By means of optical microscope , scanning electron microscope （SEM） and transmission electron microscope （TEM）, the process of densification, the characterization of phase transformation and the microstructure for spark plasma sintering （SPS） nano hard phase Ti（C,N）-based cermet were investigated. It is found that the spark plasma sintering （SPS） enables the nano hard phase Ti（C,N）-based cermet to densify rapidly, however, the full densification of the sintered samples can not be obtained. The rate of phase transformation is significantly quick. When being sintered at 1 200 ℃ for 8 min, Mo2C is completely dissolved, and TiN dissolves into TiC entirely and disappears. Above 1 200 ℃, Ti（C,N） begins to decompose and the atoms of C and N separate from Ti（C,N） resulting in the generation of N2 and the graphite. Due to the denitrification and the graphitization, the density and the hardness of sintered samples are rather low. The distribution of grain size of the sample sintered at 1 350 ℃ covers a wide range of 90500 nm, and most of the grain size are about 200 nm. The hard phase is not of typical core-rim structure. Oxides on the surface of particles can not be fully removed and present in sample as titanium oxide TiO2. Graphite exists in band-like shape.

Composition and Structure of Ti-6Al-4V Alloy Plasma-based Ion Implanted with Nitrogen

The composition and structure of Ti 6Al 4V alloy plasma based ion implanted with nitrogen was investigated.The nitrogen depth distribution shows more antiballistic with distribution peak heightened with increased implantation time(dose),and more like a parabola at the low implantation pulse voltage.When implantation pulse voltage is increased,the implantation depth increased with the nitrogen distribution peak being deepened,widened and lowered somewhat.TiN,TiN+Ti 2N,or Ti 2N second phases were formed in the implanted layer.The relative percentage of nitrogen content in the form of TiN increases when going deeper into the implanted(TiN formed) layer.The increase of implantation pulse width and/or time is favourable for the formation of TiN rather than Ti 2N.It is unfavourable for formation of any nitrides when implantation pulse voltage is decreased to 30kV or less.Tiny crystalline particles (made mainly of Ti 2N and a smaller percentage of TiO 2 phases) of regular shapes such as triangle and tetragon, etc .(about 20 nm) are found distrbuted dispersively in the near surface region of samples implanted at the high implantation pulse voltage (75kV).

Ground-State Energy Shifts of H-Like Ti Under Dense and Hot Plasma Conditions

In this study, by adopting the ion sphere model, the self-consistent field method is used with the Poisson-Boltzmann equation and the Dirac equation to calculate the ground-state energies of H-like Ti at a plasma electron density from 10^22 cm^-3 to 10^24 cm^-3 and the electron temperature from 100 eV to 3600 eV. The ground-state energy shifts of H-like Ti show different trends with the electron density and the electron temperature. It is shown that the energy shifts increase with the increase in the electron density and decrease with the increase in the electron temperature. The energy shifts are sensitive to the electron density, but only sensitive to the low electron temperature. In addition, an accurately fitting formula is obtained to fast estimate the ground-state energies of H-like Ti. Such fitted formula can also be used to estimate the critical electron density of pressure ionization for the ground state of H-like Ti.

Ti Coating on Magnesium Alloy by Arc-Added Glow Discharge Plasma Penetrating Technique

Arc-added glow discharge plasma penetrating technique is a new surface coating method. With the help of vacuum arc discharge, a cold cathode arc source continually emits ion beams of coating elements with high currency density and high ionizing ratio. As the ion bombard and diffusion working on, the surface of the parts form deposited layer, penetrated layer and hybrid layer. Under lab condition, a commercial magnesium alloy Az91 had been coated with Ti film layer with the aim of improving its’ anti-corrosion performance. This paper mainly summarized our studies on the testing and analyzing of the coating layer. The composition and microstructure of the coating layer had been analyzed by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and glow discharge spectrum (GDS), and the surface appearance had been surveyed by scanning electronic microscope (SEM). The adhesion strength between film and matrix had been evaluated by experiments of sticking-tearing. The results indicated that the coated layer on magnesium alloy were homogeneous, dense and robustly adhered.

Salt spray corrosion test of micro-plasma oxidation ceramic coatings on Ti alloy

Ceramic coatings were prepared on Ti-6Al-4V alloy in NaAlO2 solution by micro-plasma oxidation （MPO）. The salt spray tests of the coated samples and the substrates were carded out in a salt spray test machine. The phase composition and surface morphology of the coatings were investigated by XRD and SEAM. Severe corrosion occurred on the substrate surface, while there were no obvious corrosion phenomena on the coated samples. The coatings were composed of Al2TiO5 and a little α-Al2O3 and mille TiO2, and the salt spray test did not change the composition of the coatings. The weight loss rate of the coatings decreased with increasing MPO time because of the increase in density and thickness of the coatings. The surface morphology of the coatings was influenced by salt spray corrosion test. Among the coated samples, the coating prepared for 2 h has the best corrosion resistance under salt spray test.

Spark Plasma Sintering Properties of Ultrafine Ti(C,N)-based Cermet

Ultrafine Ti(C,N)-based cermet was sintered by SPS from 1050℃ to 1450℃ and its sintering properties,such as porosity,mechanical properties and phase transformation,were investigated by optical microscopy (OM),scanning electron microscopy (SEM),X-ray diffraction (XRD),and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC).It is found that the spark plasma sintering properties of Ti(C,N)-based cermet differ from those of conventional vacuum sintering.The liquid phase appearance is at least lower by 150℃ than that in vacuum sintering.The porosity decreases sharply below 1 200℃ and reaches minimum at 1 200℃,and afterwards it almost keeps invariable and no longer increases.SPS remarkably accelerates the phase transformation of Ti(C,N)-based cermet and it has a powerful ability to remove oxides in Ti(C,N)-based cermets.Above 1 350℃,denitrification occurred.Fresh graphite phase formed above 1 430℃.Both the porosity and graphite are responsible for the poor TRS.

STUDIES ON THE SYNTHESIS OF Ti_3O_5 BY MICROWAVE INDUCED PLASMA METHOD

Using a low power microwave generator and a surfatron discharge cavity, Ti3O5 was synthesized via the hydrogenation of TiO2 in surface wave induced microwave plasma. Besides, the chemical behavior of hydrogen in the plasma and its influence on the formation of Ti3O5 were preliminarily studied.

Compound Ceramic Coatings on Ti-6Al-4V by Micro-Plasma Oxidation in NaAlO_2 Solution

Micro-plasma oxidation (MPO) technique is a new technique by which compound ceramic coating can be grown in situ on Al, Ti, Mg and many other valve-metals. Compound ceramic coatings on Ti-6Al-4V alloy were prepared for different time by pulsed bi-polar MPO in NaAlO2 solution. The phase composition, morphology and the element distribution of the coatings were studied by XRD, SEM and JEOL SUPERPROBE 733 electric probe, respectively. Electrochemical Impedance Spectra (EIS) of the coatings were measured to study the structure character of the coatings. Through the proper EIS interpreting software, the "equivalent circuit" of the coatings was established, and the fitting values of equivalent element were calculated. The coating is mainly composed of Al2TiO5, a-A12O3 and rutile TiO2. The content of Ti element in the coating is less than that of substrate; its distribution is relatively uniform, and Ti in the outer layer is less than that in the inner layer. The content of Al in the coating is more than that of substrate, and its distribution is not even: Al in the middle part is more than that on both sides of the coating; And the EIS analysis has illustrated the double-layer structure of the coatings, and the outside layer is loosen and the inner layer compact; with the increase of the oxidizing time, the surface roughness of the coatings, and the porosity of the outer layer of the coating are increased while the compactness of the inner layer of the coatings are improved.