A Comparison on the Wear Performance of TC4 and TC11 Alloys

Wear tests of TC4 and TC11 alloys were performed at 25 and 600 ℃ on a MG-2000 type high temperature wear tester. The morphology,cross-section morphology,composition and structure of worn surfaces for these two titanium alloys were comparatively observed and analyzed with scanning electron microscopy,energy disperesive spectrum and X-ray diffraction. The hardness profile of the worn surface to the matrix was measured using an HVS-1000 type digital microhardness tester. The results show that TC4 and TC11 alloys presented poor wear performance at 25 ℃ but excellent wear performance at 600 ℃. Tribo-layers on the worn surfaces of TC4 and TC11 alloys were obviously different at 25 and 600 ℃. At 25 ℃,thin and uneven tribo-layer was observed and the wear performance of titanium alloys were not improved. In addition, the wear rate increased with an increase of load. The wear mechanisms were adhesive and abrasive wear. At 600 ℃,because of the thick and even tribo-layer containing high hardness tribo-oxides,wear rate was substantially lower than that at 25 ℃. And wear rate of TC11 alloy was lower than that of TC4 alloy. The wear mechanism were mild oxidation wear.