Effects of High Temperature Wear Behaviour of Sintered Ti–6Al–4V Reinforced with Nano B4C Particle

Abstract

The present work deals with improving the high temperature wear behavior of sintered Ti–6Al–4V reinforced with nano B4C with the help of mechanical alloying method. By using Pin-on-disc wear testing machine, the high temperature wear behavior of the prepared composites were investigated at an applied load of 10–30 N with an increment of 5 N for various pin temperatures (30, 50, 100 and 150 °C). The wear resistance of the Ti–6Al–4V increased with increase in the wt% of the nano B4C reinforced at all temperatures and sliding distances. The transition of severe to mild wear strongly depended on the addition of nano B4C particles. Ti–6Al–4V showed a severe wear at all conditions such as sliding distances and sliding temperatures. But with the addition of 2 to 10 wt% of nano B4C particles, the severe to mild wear was noticed at all temperature conditions. The wear surface of the transition mode was evaluated by scanning electron microscope. At elevated temperature, the major wear mechanism for the Ti–6Al–4V was adhesion, whereas Ti–6Al–4V–B4C composite showed abrasion, oxidation and delamination as the foremost wear mechanisms.