Mechanisms of oxide dependent tribological behavior in Ti / Steel sliding and influence of nanostructured surfaces

The tribological behavior of pure titanium having coarse-grained or nanostructured surfaces has been investigated against a steel ball moved with an alternative motion. The nanostructures were obtained by Surface Mechanical Attrition Treatment (SMAT) both at room and at cryogenic temperatures. An unexpected wear behavior was revealed: the hard steel ball was abraded for all cases even if it was several times harder compared to the Ti surface. This was due to the formation of a third body consisting of hard Ti oxides. Interestingly, important variations of the coefficient of friction were also revealed during the rubbing process. These variations could be separated into three successive stages, each with its specific wear mechanisms. The wear regimes were related to changes in the third body layer formed between the Ti and steel surfaces. SMAT changed the formation kinetics of the third body. The temperature at which the SMAT was conducted also introduced different third body formation kinetics. Important variations in the wear resistance were consequently observed between each surface condition.