Friction and Wear of Oxide Scale Obtained on Pure Titanium after High-Temperature Oxidation

Abstract

High-temperature oxidation was performed at temperatures from 600 to 750 °C over a period of 24 h and 72 h. It was shown in the study that the oxide scale became more homogeneous and covered the entire surface as the oxidation temperature increased. After oxidation over a period of 24 h, the hardness of the produced layers increased as the oxidation temperature increased (from 892.4 to 1146.6 kgf/mm2). During oxidation in a longer time variant (72 h), layers with a higher hardness were obtained (1260 kgf/mm2). Studies on friction and wear characteristics of titanium were conducted using couples with ceramic balls (Al2O3, ZrO2) and with high-carbon steel (100Cr6) balls. The oxide films produced at a temperature range of 600–750 °C led to a reduction of the wear ratio value, with the lowest one obtained in tests with the 100Cr6 steel balls. Frictional contact of Al2O3 balls with an oxidized titanium disc resulted in a reduction of the wear ratio, but only for the oxide scales produced at 600 °C (24 h, 72 h) and 650 °C (24 h). For the ZrO2 balls, an increase in the wear ratio was observed, especially when interacting with the oxide films obtained after high-temperature oxidation at 650 °C or higher temperatures. The increase in wear intensity after titanium oxidation was also observed for the 100Cr6 steel balls.