Effects of Ni addition on tribocorrosion property of TiCu alloy

In this study, the tribocorrosion characteristics of TiCu alloys with proper addition of Ni (5 and 10 at%) were investigated and compared with TiCu alloys (Ti70Cu30). X-ray diffractometry, glow discharge optical emission spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive spectroscopy were used to identify the phase structure of the surface. The corrosion behavior of the alloys was studied in Hank's balanced salt solution (HBSS) using electrochemical techniques to reveal whether the addition of Ni would non-linearly decrease the corrosion resistance of TiCu alloys. Ball-on-disk wear experiments were performed on the composite alloys under dry and wet conditions. Results indicate that addition of Ni impairs the anti-wear capability of TiCu alloys in air but improves that of TiCu alloys with an appropriate content of Ni (5 at%) in HBSS. The phase structure transition as a result of the addition of Ni contributes mainly to these consequences.