Manipulation tribological behavior of Ti6Al4V alloy via a duplex treatment of double glow plasma surface molybdenizing-laser surface texturing (LST)

Abstract In this work, Ti6Al4V alloy was treated by a duplex treatment of double glow plasma surface molybdenizing-laser surface texturing (LST) aiming to realize surface strengthening and manipulate its tribological behavior. The double glow plasma surface alloying (DGPSA) with molybdenum (Mo) was firstly conducted on the Ti6Al4V alloy and followed by LST to prepare round dimple-shape texture with a density of 5%, 7%, 11%. The results showed that Mo and Mo/Ti solid solution phases were detected in the Mo-layer by X-ray diffraction (XRD), the received Mo-layer with a thickness of about 13 μm was uniform and compact. Double glow plasma surface molybdenizing significantly improved the surface hardness and elastic modulus of Ti6Al4V alloy by nanoindentation test. The gradient distributed Mo-layer was tightly adhered to the Ti6Al4V alloy matrix through scratching and indentation tests. Duplex treated Ti6Al4V alloy with a 5% texture density suggested better wear resistance in comparison to the untreated Ti6Al4V alloy, which was confirmed by a 48.7% lower specific wear rate than that of Ti6Al4V alloy. Taking advantages of DGPSA and LST, duplex treatment of double glow plasma surface molybdenizing-laser surface texturing was established to create on the working surface of Ti6Al4V alloy with promisingly improved tribological behavior.