Dry sliding wear behaviour of Ti13Nb13Zr alloy produced via pressure-assisted sintering

Abstract

Novel alloys and advanced manufacturing methods may improve titanium-based materials' mechanical, corrosion, and biocompatibility properties. Specifically, the Ti13Nb13Zr alloy has recently garnered significant attention for orthopaedic applications, where adequate wear resistance is essential. The present paper aims to reveal dry sliding wear behaviour of the Ti13Nb13Zr alloy produced via pressure-assisted sintering. Ti13Nb13Zr samples were tested under different loads (10, 15, and 20 N) in a ball-on-disc dry sliding test system. The coefficient of friction (CoF) curves obtained to demonstrate dry sliding wear behaviour of the alloy, and the worn surface morphologies were examined to understand the underlying wear mechanisms. The mean coefficient of friction (CoF) values (and standard deviations) for the specimens subjected to increasing loads were 0.445 (0.0182), 0.480 (0.0205), and 0.465 (0.0167), respectively. Furthermore, the specific wear rates after wear were also found to be 3.76x10-3, 4.24x10-3, and 4.5x10-3 in the same order. Histogram analyses and weight loss values indicate that the 20 N test load exhibited the highest wear rate. The surface morphology was characterised by scanning electron microscopy, and EDS investigations were conducted. The formation of grooves and scratches was attributed to abrasive wear. The occurrence of wear debris at loads of 15 and 20 N resulted in the development of a three-body wear mechanism. Moreover, elemental mapping analysis demonstrated that the transfer of alumina ball particles on the worn surface at higher loads.