ISSN 3041-1815. Physicochemical Mechanics of Materials. 2026.
Volume 62, Issue 2

Formation of composite coatings on VT6 titanium alloy

Keywords

titanium alloy, vacuum arc deposition, gas nitriding, coating, hardness, wear resistance.

Cite as

Pohrelyuk І. М., Lavrys S. М., Tkachuk О. V., Zadorozhna Kh. R., Trush V. S., and Sirak Ya. Ya. Formation of composite coatings on VT6 titanium alloy. Physicochemical Mechanics of Materials. 2026. 62(2), 062-069.

https://doi.org/10.15407/pcmm2026.02.062

Abstract

The effectiveness of complex treatment of VT6 (Ti–6Al–4V) titanium alloy for increasing its wear resistance was investigated. The possibility of the formation of wear-resistant composite coatings by vacuum arc spraying of an aluminum layer or aluminum and titanium layers onto the alloy surface with subsequent gas nitriding of such compositions was studied. The phase composition of the obtained composite coatings and their physico­mechanical characteristics were established. The wear tests of composite coatings de­monstrated lower friction coefficient and cross-section area of the wear track in tribo-pairs with a ceramic ball without lubrication under normal load of 10; 15 and 20 N compared to the material without surface treatment, as well as after nitriding.

References

  1. M. Peters, J. Kumpfert, C.H. Ward, C. Leyens, “Titanium alloys for aerospace applications,” Adv. Eng. Mater., 5, Is. 6, 419-427 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1002/adem.200310095
  2. P. Vizureanu, M.S. Baltatu, “Titanium-based alloys – characteristics and applications,” IntechOpen, 200 (2024). https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.1001617
  3. E.O. Ezugwu, Z.M. Wang, “Titanium alloys and their machinability – a review,” J. Mater. Process. Technol., 68, Is. 3, 262-274 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1016/S0924-0136(96)00030-1
  4. A. Stricker, T. Bergfeldt, T. Fretwurst, O. Addison, R. Schmelzeisen, R. Rothweiler, K. Nelson, C. Gross, “Impurities in commercial titanium dental implants – A mass and optical emission spectrometry elemental analysis,” Dent. Mater., 38, 1395-1403 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dental.2022.06.028
  5. J.V. Calazans Neto, C.A.S. Celles, C.S.A.F. de Andrade, C.R.M. Afonso, B.E. Nagay, V.A.R. Barão, “Recent advances and prospects in b-type titanium alloys for dental implants applications,” ACS Biomater. Sci. Eng., 10, 6029-6060 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1021/acsbiomaterials.4c00963
  6. M. Niinomi, “Mechanical properties of biomedical titanium alloys,” Mater. Sci. Eng. A, 243, Iss. 1-2, 231-236 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1016/S0921-5093(97)00806-X
  7. M. Geetha, A.K. Singh, R. Asokamani, A.K. Gogia Ti based biomaterials, the ultimate choice for orthopaedic implants – a review,” Prog. Mater. Sci., 54, 397-425 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmatsci.2008.06.004
  8. H. Li, K. Le, G. Wang, Z. Ren, Y. Liu, Z. Yang, L. Zheng, S. Xu, “Enhanced friction and wear properties of TiN/MoS2 composite coating on the surface of plasma nitrided Ti6Al4V alloy,” Lubricants, 13, Is. 1 (2025). Art. no. 37. https://doi.org/10.3390/lubricants13010037
  9. Y. Mantani, M. Tsuji, E. Akada, T. Homma, “Material properties and friction and wear behavior of Ti-18 mass% Nb alloy after gas nitriding and quenching process,” Metals, 14, Is. 8, (2024). Art. no. 944. https://doi.org/10.3390/met14080944
  10. P. Dziarski, N. Makuch, “Characterization of wear resistance and corrosion resistance of plasma paste borided layers produced on pure titanium,” Materials, 17, Is. 16 (2024). Art. no. 3922. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17163922
  11. V.M. Fedirko, I.M. Pohrelyuk, O.I. Yas’kiv, “Formation of functional coatings based on interstitial compounds on titanium under the conditions of thermodiffusion saturation,” Mater. Sci., 42, Is. 3, 299-308 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11003-006-0083-8
  12. I.M. Pohrelyuk, S.E. Sheykin, J. Padgurskas, S.M. Lavrys, “Wear resistance of two-phase titanium alloy after deformation-diffusion treatment,” Tribol. Int., 127, 404-411 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.triboint.2018.06.011
  13. T. Matijošius, I. Pohrelyuk, S. Lavrys, L. Staišiūnas, A. Selskienė, A. Stičinskaitė, L. Ra-gelienė, A. Smailys, A. Andriušis, J. Padgurskas, “Wear resistance and antibacterial properties of 3D-printed Ti6Al4V alloy after gas nitriding,” Tribol. Int., 197 (2024). Art. no. 109839. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.triboint.2024.109839
  14. I.M. Pohrelyuk, M.M. Student, Kh.R. Zadorozhna, S.M. Lavrys, T.M. Kravchyshyn, I.V. Kovalchuk, “Tribological characteristics of titanium after combined treatment,” Mater. Sci., 59, Is. 6, 746-753 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11003-024-00836-0
  15. R. Niu, J. Li, Y. Wang, J. Chen, Q. Xue, “Structure and high temperature tribological behavior of TiAlN/nitride duplex treated coatings on Ti6Al4V,” Surf. Coat. Technol., 309, 232-241 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surfcoat.2016.05.016
  16. I.M. Pohrelyuk, M.M. Student, Kh.R. Zadorozhna, V.S. Trush, T.M. Kravchyshyn, “Surface modification of titanium by oxidation followed by electrospark alloying with a graphite electrode,” Mater. Sci., 59, Is. 3, 347-353 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11003-024-00784-9
  17. P.H. Mayrhofer, A. Hoerling, L. Karlsson, J. Sjölén, T. Larsson, C. Mitterer, L. Hultman, “Self-organized nanostructures in the Ti-Al-N system,” Appl. Phys. Lett., 83, 2049-2052 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1608464
  18. S. Danışman, D. Odabas, M. Teber, “The effect of TiN, TiAlN, TiCN thin films obtained by reactive magnetron sputtering method on the wear behavior of Ti6Al4V alloy: a comparative study,” Coatings, 12, Is. 9 (2022). Art. no. 1238. https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings12091238
  19. T.W.B. Riyadi, D. Setiadhi, A.D. Anggono, W.A. Siswanto, H.H. Al-Kayiem, “Analysis of mechanical and thermal stresses due to TiN coating of Fe substrate by physical vapor deposition,” Force. Mech., 4 (2021). Art. no. 100042. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.finmec.2021.100042