The effect of different methods to add nitrogen to titanium alloys on the properties of titanium nitride clad layers

• A better understanding of the nitride layer formed on titanium alloy.
• Search for titanium treated with high wear-resistance and low cost.
• Crack-free nitride layer was formed by the GTAW method.

In this investigation, titanium nitride (TiN) reinforcements are synthesized in situ on the surface of Ti–6Al–4V substrates with gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) process by different methods to add nitrogen, nitrogen gas or TiN powder, to titanium alloys. The results showed that if nitrogen gas was added to titanium alloys, the TiN phase would be formed. But if TiN powder was added to titanium alloys, TiN + TiNx dual phases would be presented. The results of the dry sliding wear test revealed that the wear performance of the Ti–6Al–4V alloy specimen coated with TiN or TiN + TiNx clad layers were much better than that of the pure Ti–6Al–4V alloy specimen. Furthermore, the evolution of the microstructure during cooling was elucidated and the relationship among the wear behavior of the clad layer, microstructures, and microhardness was determined.