Wear properties of nonhydrogenated, hydrogenated, and dehydrogenated Ti6Al4V alloy

Wear properties of the nonhydrogenated, hydrogenated 0.5 wt%, and dehydrogenated Ti6Al4V alloys were studied through dry sliding wear tests using an M-200 type pin-on-disk wear testing machine in ambient air at room temperature to reveal the effects of hydrogen on wear properties of Ti6Al4V alloy. Morphology and chemical element of worn surface were investigated by means of scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Results show that hydrogen decreases the wear resistance of Ti6Al4V alloy. Wear rate of the Ti6Al4V alloy increases after hydrogenation. Wear rate increases by 244.3 % when 0.5 wt% hydrogen is introduced into a Ti6Al4V alloy. Wear rate of the dehydrogenated Ti6Al4V alloy recovers. Wear mechanisms of the nonhydrogenated, hydrogenated, and dehydrogenated Ti6Al4V alloys are determined. The nonhydrogenated Ti6Al4V alloy is controlled by oxidative wear. The hydrogenated Ti6Al4V alloy is dominated by abrasive wear. Wear mechanism of the dehydrogenated Ti6Al4V alloys is a mixture of oxidative wear and abrasive wear.