Effect of Thermal Oxidation Treatment on Surface Oxide Layer and Tribological Properties of Ti-6Al-4V Alloy

The surface of Ti-6Al-4V alloy was modified by thermal oxidation to improve its surface properties. The alloy was subjected to thermal oxidation treatment at temperatures of 600, 700 and 800 °C, resulting in the formation of a hard oxide layer on its surface. The composition, structure, and properties of the surface oxide layers prepared at different temperatures were studied and analyzed. The results indicated that as the thermal oxidation temperature increased, the thickness of the oxide layer increased. The oxide film obtained at 700 °C exhibited a more uniform and dense microstructure, effectively enhancing the surface hardness and wettability of the alloy. In tribological performance testing, the wear volume and wear rate of the alloy surface were significantly reduced after thermal oxidation treatment, with the 700 °C sample performing the best. This oxide film exhibited good adhesion between the film and the substrate, along with strong mechanical properties, significantly improving the wear resistance of Ti-6Al-4V alloy under dry sliding conditions, and demonstrating good potential for tribological applications.