Friction and wear properties of ultrafine grain Ti-8Mo-3Fe alloys fabricated by MA-SPS

The friction and wear properties of ultrafine grain Ti-8Mo-3Fe alloy fabricated by mechanical alloying (MA) and subsequent spark plasma sintering (SPS) were investigated in SBF simulated body fluid. It was compared with those of as-SPSed micron size grain Ti-8Mo-3Fe alloy and as-casted Ti and TC4 alloy. The results show that ultrafine grain Ti-8Mo-3Fe alloy with high density and uniform microstructure can be fabricated by MA-SPS, and the alloy mainly consists of β-Ti phase and a small amount of α-Ti phase. The average grain size is 1. 5 μm, and the microhardness is 448 HV. In the same wear condition, the wear degree of ultrafine grain Ti-8Mo-3Fe alloy is significantly lower than those of micro-crystalline Ti-8Mo-3Fe, as-casted Ti, and TC4 alloy, so it has the lowest wear volume and stable friction coefficient. Ultrafine grain Ti-8Mo-3Fe alloy is mainly characterized by abrasive wear, but micro-crystalline Ti-8Mo-3Fe, as-casted Ti and TC4 alloy are characterized by abrasive and adhesion wear.