Effect of temperature on wear behavior in a Ti-V-Cr base fireproof titanium alloy

Abstract

Dry sliding wear tests on pin-on-disk samples were performed in a Ti-35V-15Cr-0.3Si-0.1C fireproof titanium alloy against itself at different temperatures from 298 K to 1173 K. The mean friction coefficient and volume wear rate gradually decreased with an increase of testing temperature, although the volume wear rate at 1173 K exhibited a reverse trend. The tribo-oxide layer did not exist on the worn surface at 298 K, while discontinuous thin tribo-oxide layer was observed at 823 K. The tribo-oxide layer became thick and continuous at 973 K and it contacted with the substrate compactly. When the temperature increased up to 1173 K, the tribo-oxide layer further became thick with formation of cracks inside the layer. The adhesive wear and abrasive wear were the predominant wear mechanism at 298 K. With increasing the testing temperature, the wear mechanism underwent a transition from the abrasive wear and oxidative wear at 823 K to the mild oxidative wear at 973 K, and further to the severe oxidative wear at 1173 K.