Enhancing the microstructure and properties of titanium alloys through nitriding and other surface engineering methods

Over the last 40 years, the commercial production of titanium and its alloys has increased steadily. Whilst these materials have some very attractive properties, enabling applications in many industries, they are seldom used in mechanical engineering applications because of their poor tribological properties. This paper starts with an introduction to the titanium material and a review of the different types of surface treatment. The processes of nitriding, oxidation and carburizing are among the most popular thermochemical treatments aiming at improving the surface properties of Ti-alloys. Different kinds of nitriding are investigated like plasma nitriding, ion nitriding, and laser and gas nitriding. The kinetics of nitriding and the conditions for the formation of nitrided layers are studied. The influence of the main processing parameters such as temperature, time on the microstructure and the formation of new phases during the processes of nitriding is discussed. Also based on investigations presented in the literature, the effects of nitriding on the microhardness and the corrosion resistance of titanium and titanium alloys are analyzed. The improved mechanical properties, which arise from these thermochemical treatments, are discussed in relation to the potential for applying these alloys to different industries.