Plasma niobium alloying on Ti6A14V alloy surface and its wear resistance

The morphology, microstructure, mechanical properties, tribological property and electrochemical corrosion behavior of niobium modified layers, fabricated on Ti6Al4V alloy using a double glow plasma surface alloying technique, were studied by using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, micro-hardness tester, pin-on-disc tribometer and electrochemical measurement system, respectively. In addition, effect of the Nb modified layer on the corrosive wear properties of Ti6Al4V alloy substrate was also investigated in 3. 5% NaCl solution. The results indicate that the processing parameter of Nb surface alloying shows significantly effect on the morphology and properties. Particularly, alloying layer with high Nb content has outstanding surface strengthening effect on Ti6Al4V alloy substrate, and can improve remarkably its atmospheric anti-wear capacity and corrosive wear resistance in NaCl solution. Besides, Ti6Al4V alloy substrate and Nb alloying layer manifest better corrosive wear resistance than atmospheric aiti-wear capacity, the reason is attribute to lubrication of aqueous solution and excellent corrosion resistance of the both samples.