Structural transformations, strengthening, and wear resistance of titanium nickelide upon abrasive and adhesive wear

Wear resistance and structural transformations upon abrasive and adhesive wear of titanium nickelide Ti49.4Ni50.6 in microcrystalline (MC) and submicrocrystalline (SMC) states have been investigated. It has been shown that the abrasive wear resistance of this alloy exceeds that of the steel 12Kh18N9 by a factor of about 2, that of the steel 110G13 (Hadfield steel), by a factor of 1.3, and is close to that of the steel 95Kh18. Upon adhesive wear in a testing-temperature range from −50 to +300°C, the Ti49.4Ni50.6 alloy, as compared to the steel 12Kh18N9, is characterized by the wear rate that is tens of times smaller and by a reduced (1.5–2.0 times) friction coefficient. The enhanced wear resistance of the Ti49.4Ni50.6 alloy is due to the development of intense strain hardening in it and to a high fracture toughness, which is a consequence of effective relaxation of high contact stresses arising in the surface layer of the alloy. The SMC state produced in the alloy with the help of equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP) has no effect on the abrasive wear resistance of the alloy. The favorable effect of ECAP on the wear resistance of the Ti49.4Ni50.6 alloy takes place under conditions of its adhesive wear at temperatures from −25 to +70°C. The electron-microscopic investigation showed that under conditions of wear at negative and room temperatures in the surface layer (1–5 μm thick) of titanium nickelide there arises a mixed structure consisting of an amorphous phase and nanocrystals of supposedly austenite and martensite. Upon friction at 200–300°C, a nanocrystalline structure of the B 2 phase arises near the alloy surface, which, as is the case with the amorphous-nanocrystalline structure, is characterized by significant effective strength and wear resistance.