Microstructure and erosive wear behaviors of Ti6Al4V alloy treated by plasma Ni alloying

The Ni modified layers were prepared on the surface of Ti6Al4V substrate by the plasma surface alloying technique. The surface and cross-section morphology, element concentration and phase composition were investigated by thermal field emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy (GDOES), X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. The cross-section nano-scale hardness of Ni modified layer was measured by nano indenter. The results showed that Ni modified layers exhibited triple layers structure and continuous gradient distribution of the concentration. From the surface to the matrix, they were 2 μm Ni deposition layer, 8 μm Ni-rich alloying layer including the phases of Ni3Ti, NiTi, Ti2Ni, AlNi3 and 24 μm Ni-poor alloying layer forming the solid solution of nickel. With increasing of the thickness of Ni modified layer, the microhardness increased first, reached the climax, then gradient decreased. The erosion tests were performed on the surface of the untreated and treated Ti6Al4V sample using MSE (Micro-slurry-jet Erosion) method. The experiment results showed that the wear rate of every layer showed different value, and the Ni-rich alloying layer was the lowest. The strengthening mechanism of Ni modified layer was also discussed.