Abrasive wear resistance of Ti-6AL-4V obtained by the conventional manufacturing process and by electron beam melting (EBM)

Ti–6Al–4V is one of the most used commercial titanium alloys, in part due to properties that are desirable high value sectors such as aerospace industry, good strength-to-weight ratio and corrosion resistance. These importance gas turbine engines structural components, where alloys complement heavier steel or nickel alloys. It also a candidate be manufacturing prostheses, since it has biocompatibility, but applications other areas limited its poor bulk wear Conventionally processed Ti-6AL-4V typically used, however additive (AM) techniques electron beam melting (EBM) can applied this alloy. increasingly attractive across many industries because geometrical freedom control mechanical properties, both key, for example, successful production highly personalised prostheses complex thermofluids channels automotive components. Parts produced by EBM denser than those obtained AM processes, still experience increased over their traditionally equivalents, particularly sliding, thus surface treatment common. This work compares observed when specimens manufactured either conventionally were subjected abrasion via means dry sand-rubber wheel tribometer capable testing ASTM G65 test method. The resulting scars characterised (hardness, grain size, roughness) details mechanism(s) identified. exhibited much greater wear, twice specimens, feature significantly more scratches. Although there several studies variously considering two-body sliding efficacy treatments type alloy, addresses paucity information about comparative abrasive performance alloy two process routes.