Experimental study of friction and wear

characteristics of titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V)

under lubricated sliding condition
Mukund Dutt Sharma and Rakesh Sehgal
Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Hamirpur, India

Abstract
Purpose – In the present study, an attempt has been made to examine friction and wear behaviour of Ti-6Al-4V alloy sliding against EN-31 steel under
lubricative media of common commercial grade oil (hydrol-68). The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach – Tribological properties of Ti-6Al-4V under hydrol-68 as lubricative media are measured using multi-tribo tester.
Lubricating oil samples at different normal loads have also been analysed with the help of laser net fines (LNF) as per ISO 4406:1999. Experiments have
been designed by two level full factorial method.
Findings – Experimental results indicate that the wear rate of Ti-6Al-4V alloy decreases as sliding speed increases. But it shows typical transition
characteristics as the normal load increases; till 30 N wear rate decreases then it increases from 30 to 50 N. Also for all loads and at every speed, the
average wear increases as the sliding distance increases. The average coefficient of friction of the Ti-6Al-4V alloy decreases with the increase in sliding
velocity and normal load. Lubricating oil analysis indicates that the maximum wear particle size (5-15 mm) was obtained at a normal load of 50 N.
Originality/value – This paper shows that considerable reduction in friction and wear is achieved by using common grade oil hydrol-68 as lubricative
media. Further, the analysis of lubricating oil using LNF at different normal loads indicates the co-existence of various wear phenomena such as cutting,
fatigue, and sliding wear simultaneously.

Keywords Wear, Friction, Sliding, Common commercial grade oil, Ti-6Al-4V alloy

Paper type Research paper

1. Introduction Therefore, lubricated wear is the particular aspect of tribology

High strength, low density, and excellent corrosion resistance
are the main properties that make titanium alloys attractive for a
variety of applications. Erosion resistance to different media,
good oxidation resistance, and moderate strength at high
temperatures, makes this metal attractive for industrial
applications. It has a number of features that distinguish it
from other light metals and that make its physical metallurgy
both complex and interesting (Joshi, 2006). Titanium alloys
primarily stand out due to two properties: high specific strength
and excellent corrosion resistance. This also explains their
preferential use in the aerospace sector, the chemical industry,
medical engineering and the leisure sector. The physical and
electronic properties of the titanium atom, because of its
position in the periodic table, make it suitable for alloying with
other elements to produce a wide range of alloys
(Hosford, 2005).
A wear system consists of the contacting surfaces, the
interfacial layer, and the operating environment under which
the contact takes place. To understand the wear process, one
needs to measure wear precisely within the context of the
environment without interference from unintended
parameters such as vibration, alignment, and contamination.
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
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Industrial Lubrication and Tribology
66/2 (2014) 174– 183
q Emerald Group Publishing Limited [ISSN 0036-8792]
[DOI 10.1108/ILT-10-2011-0079]
that is concerned with both the measurement methodology
and the mechanisms of surface degradation or protection by
chemically active films. It is useful and advantageous to use
“dry wear” as a baseline to form a context within which
lubricated wear can be most clearly delineated. Dry wear
simply means that no intentional lubricant was used to
achieve effective lubrication. However, the majority of tests
run under dry wear conditions tend to be dominated by the
material properties of the two opposing surfaces. These latter
cases form a reasonable baseline for highlighting differences
that result from differing material properties (Kato, 2006).
Research related to lubricated sliding friction and wear
characteristics of titanium alloys is illustrated as follows:
ordinary lubricants are not effective, but halogenated
hydrocarbons and simple inorganic halogen compounds
provide some benefit in reducing this galling. In general
titanium wear and lubrication problems can be partially
overcome by modifying the surface of the metal and the
lubricating this surface (Miller and Holladay, 1958/1959). The
wear resistance of lubricated but unplated Ti surfaces is low and
decreases rapidly with increasing load. The wear resistance of
bare Ti practically is non-existent. Wear protection by nickel
plating alone or by covering the Ti surface with the solid
lubricant was slight (Beck and Danovich, 1969). Titanium alloy
with hexagonal or near hexagonal structures exhibit greater
resistance to abrasive wear than those with body centred cubic
structures. In contrast 1-hexadecane results in reduced friction
for cubic alloys, but considerably higher wear for all the other
alloys (Giltrow, 1970). As little as 0.02 wt.% I2 in a eutectic
lubricant of biphenyl and diphenyl either results in reduced
friction and small reductions in wear for hexagonal alloys.
Neutral lubricants like industrial oil (type 20) do not help in

174
 Experimental study of friction and wear characteristics
Mukund Dutt Sharma and Rakesh Sehgal
increasing the galling load is more noticeable if the alloy content
is less. This phenomenon is due to the fact that titanium reacts
with lubricant during testing and compounds are formed which
prevents galling (Dovzhenko et al., 1972). The presence of
water lubrication and a very smooth counter face was necessary
to maintain low wear rates of the UHMWPE. A zero wear effect
was observed when nitrogen implanted UHMPE was tested
against very smooth counter faces (Ra < 0.03 mm) of either
surface oxidised or nitrogen implanted Ti-6Al-4V under water
lubrication (Allen et al., 1996). The overall degradation when
both corrosion and wear processes were occurring is lowest for
Ti-13Nb-13Zr and highest for Ti-6Al-4V and the presence of
proteins reduces the degradation of all three alloys (Khan et al.,
1999). The interfacial layers formed consist of multiple oxides,
which suggest that oxidative reactions predominate in frictional
processes under aqueous lubrication. The multiple oxides
existing on the interface are proposed to be responsible for the
tribological behaviours by influencing the diffusive and adhesive
processes (Xuedong et al., 2000). Hydrogen may play an
important role in promoting the formation of abrasive particles
in the Ti-6Al-4V/UHMWPE tribosystem under water
lubricated conditions. Based on experimental results and
discussion, a hydrogen assisted wear mechanism is proposed
(Li et al., 2001). The volumetric wear rate of titanium alloy balls
coated with a dual layer boride (TiB2 þ TiB whisker) mated
against alumina was 40 times less than that of alumina balls
mated against alumina. The coefficient of the boride-coated
Ti-6Al-4V balls was smaller than that of alumina balls by a
narrow margin (Lee et al., 2008). In simulated body fluids, wear
rate of all the samples increased substantially. The wear rate was
higher in bovine serum than in Hank’s solution. The wear
mechanism was found to be primarily abrasive (Majumdar et al.,
2008). Cu-DTP can act as best lubricant to Ti-6Al-4V while it
slides against AISI 52100 steel balls as compared with other oil
used for study. The frictional experiments of Ti-6Al-4V sliding
against AISI 52100 steel can continue at the applied load of
450 N under Cu-DTP lubricating (Wang et al., 2008).
Lubricated surface conditions produced scar with single valley
shaped scars on both specimen and pad. The wear volume was
linearly proportional to cumulative product of contact load and
relative slip as well as to the total dissipated energy. These
correlations suggest that linear relationship exists to
characterize the fretting wear of a material which is
independent of the lubrication of the substrate (specimen)
(Magaziner et al., 2009). The test results for the three bulk and
surface treated titanium based materials (Ti-64, BB, 60NiTi)
under lubricated conditions and against 52100 steel counter
faces using ASTM G133 reciprocating-ball-on-flat standard
indicated the presence of various wear modes with three-body
abrasive wear, pitting or coating fracture and adhesive wear
being the most common. It was further concluded that the ratio
of the wear of the ball specimen to the flat specimen differed
from one material couple to another and must be considered in
the concept of the tribo-system (Bansal et al., 2011).
Friction and wear are the one of the most commonly
encountered industrial problems leading to the replacement of
components and assemblies in engineering. These simple
concepts obscure the causes of many problems in sliding
systems, particularly in those that vibrate. Basically, wear occurs
when moving surfaces under load, or surface asperities, come
into contact and results in plastic deformation which in turn
results in a change in surface topography and/or removal of
material (Neville and Morina, 2006).
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Industrial Lubrication and Tribology
Volume 66 · Number 2 · 2014 · 174 –183
Literature review bring out that much work on lubricated
sliding wear and friction characteristics of Ti-6Al-4V has been
carried out either for combination of low load (10 N) and high
speed (36.6 m/s) or high load (200-1,000 N) and low speed
(0.1-0.25 m/s) operating conditions with MS, HSS, tool steel,
AISI 316L Steel, AISI 52100, hard chromium steel and Ti as
counter face and water/high end mineral oil/synthetic oil/
engine oil/proteins as lubricant. Fewer attempts have been
made for combination of medium load (10-50 N) and
medium speed (1.0-3.0 m/s) and some of the above material
as counter face and under lubricated condition, more
specifically using commercially available common lubricants.
Ti-6Al-4V having a hardness of around 36HRc has been
analysed for sliding wear and friction behavior against
materials such as MS having either quite low hardness
(140 HV as cast) or against the materials such as SS, HSS,
AISI M2 steel, C45 steel having very high hardness (hardened
to 62HRc). Further, in most of the reported literature very
simple type of tribometer namely pin-on-disc machine has
been used for experimentation. No work has been reported
for medium operating conditions with steels having medium
hardness levels as counter face. In view of the increasing use
of Ti especially grade-5 for various engineering applications,
it becomes imperative to explore the wear and friction
behavior of this material for medium set of operating
conditions with different materials as counter face and
commercially available common lubricants using even more
advanced tribometers. The present work is an attempt in this
direction, in which the sliding friction and wear behavior of
Ti-6Al-4V under lubricated condition with a common
lubricant (hydrol-68) is investigated for medium set of
operating parameters against EN31 steel using a multi-tribo
tester. Assessment of wear rate, average coefficient of friction
and average wear with varying normal load, sliding velocity
and sliding distance is carried out.
2. Experimental setup
The experimental setup used for carrying out the
investigations is shown in Figure 1. Various instruments/
equipment used are described in the succeeding paragraphs.
Figure 1 Experimental setup showing multi-tribo tester and computer
link to multi-tribo tester through software
Computer Link with Tribo tester
through software (Winducom)
Adapter (for different
attachments)
Pin Sample Roller (Counter face)
Note: Inset shows the contact region
Source: Winducom (2008)
 Experimental study of friction and wear characteristics Industrial Lubrication and Tribology
Mukund Dutt Sharma and Rakesh Sehgal Volume 66 · Number 2 · 2014 · 174 –183

2.1 Instrumentation used 2.2 Workpiece material

The major equipments used for carrying out the experimental Titanium alloy grade-5 (Ti-6Al-4V) used for experimentation
investigations (on-line and off-line) are: multi-tribo tester and was procured in the form of 32 £ 30 £ 220 mm rectangular
laser net fines (LNF) apart from a precision weighing bar form M/S Nisarg International Mumbai, Maharashtra,
machine. India and used for making pin samples of 6.35 £ 6.35 £ 9 mm
size as per the requirement of adaptor of multi-tribo tester.
2.1.1 Multi-tribo tester Chemical composition of titanium alloy was determined to
Multi-tribo tester (Ducom Instruments Pvt. Ltd, Bangalore, ascertain the grade of procured material and the results are
India) with software (Winducom, 2008) for measurements of given in Table II. Hardness of the specimen was found to be
frictional force, wear, coefficient of friction and temperature 36 HRc. The size and shape of the counter face material
of lubricant oil on wide range of materials such as metals, (EN-31 steel) were Ø 60 mm (major dia.) £ Ø 25 mm (minor
ceramics, polymers, composites and coatings as per ASTM dia.) £ 20 mm (thickness) and disc (flat roller), respectively.
G77 98 designation is shown in Figure 1. This is also used to Chemical composition of EN31 steel (counter face) is given in
study pure sliding, partial sliding and pure rolling contact, dry Table III. It is hardened to 51HRc and has a tensile strength
or lubricated contacts. Table I lists the major specifications of of 1,600 MPa and an elongation of 1-2 per cent.
multi-tribo tester. Microstructure was studied at 500£ and optical micrograph
shows Widmanstätten a structure with a phase present on
2.1.2 Laser net fines (LNF) prior b grain boundaries (Figure 3).
The LNF (Spectro Inc.) is a bench-top instrument that
analyzes hydraulic and lubricating oil samples from various 2.3 Experimental procedure
types of equipment and machinery that are part of a condition Titanium alloy grade 5 (Ti-6Al-4V) is used for investigation
monitoring program. The monitoring is based primarily on and comparison. The selection of EN31 steel counter face
the morphological analysis of the abnormal wear particles that was decided for various reasons. First, many tribological
are created from the internal components of the machine. As system comprise sliding against a steel counter face in the
a secondary application, the LNF is also an excellent particle presence of lubricant. Second, this steel has higher hardness
counter. The operator is presented with an assessment of than the selected titanium alloy and it is expected that
particles found in the fluid sample and a history of previous deformation processes during sliding, in this case, be confined
results for the same equipment. to the Ti-alloy. Third, it has a thermal conductivity which is
The LNF consists of two main components (Figure 2), about double that of the Ti-6Al-4V alloy. The friction and
a bench-top instrument in which the sample is processed, and wear experiments were carried out on multi-tribo tester under
a computer to operate the instrument and to manage the lubricated conditions. The experiments were conducted to
analytical data. The bench-top unit is designed for indoor measure coefficient of friction (m), wear rate (WR) and
laboratory use and is interfaced to an Intel Pentium Personal friction force (F) at different loads (N) and sliding velocity
Computer via a USB cable. (m/s) under lubricated conditions. For lubrication commonly
and commercially available lubricant oil (hydrol-68) having
80 centipoise viscosity and 882 kg/m3 density at room
Table I Specifications of multi-tribo tester
temperature was used. After the experiments were
Parameter Unit Min. Max. Remarks performed at lubricated condition, the used oil samples (for
different loads) were collected and analysed using LNF. The
Load N 0 1,000
schematic layout and photograph of the experimental set-up is
Speed RPM 0 2,000
shown in Figures 1 and 2. The data acquisition sampling rate
Temperature 8C Ambient 120
for friction and wear experiments was 3.5-3.75 samples/sec.
Wear mm 0 2 Least count 1 mm
The gap between block samples of size 6.35 £ 6.35 £ 9 mm
and counter face roller was maintained 2 mm before executing
each experiment. After each test the roller was polished with
Figure 2 LNF particle counter and particle shape classifier
400 grit Si-carbide sand paper and then cleaned with hexane
Computer link with instrument solution. Before and after each experiment weight of sample
through software was measured using digital analytical balance (HM-200, A&D
Company Ltd make) to calculate weight loss, which in turn
Bench Top gives wear rate. The duration of each experiment was
Instrument
600 seconds.

2.4 Design of experiment

The experiments have been designed by two level full factorial
Sipper Tube
method. While selecting parameters, capabilities of the
machines were also taken into account. The parameters
used in the experiments are given in Table IV. Repeatability
Peristaltic Pump was observed in all the experiments by repeating each
Discharge Tube experiment twice or thrice and the average value was taken.
The total number of experiments conducted on multi-tribo
tester was 25.

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Table II Chemical composition of titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V) (% by weight)

O% N% C% H% Fe% Al% V% Residuals%
0.20 Max. 0.05 Max. 0.08 Max. 0.015 Max. 0.40 Max. 5.5-6.75 3.5-4.5 0.4 Max.

Table III Chemical composition of EN-31 steel Table V Parameter combinations for friction and wear experiments
C% Mn% Si% S% P% Cr% Ni% Mo% Contact Sliding Sliding
pressure velocity distance
1.03 0.45 0.328 ,0.005 ,0.008 1.50 ,0.05 0.059
Experiment no. Load (N) (MPa) (m/s) (m)
1 10 0.248 0.52 314.16
Figure 3 Micrograph of titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V) at 500£ 2 10 0.248 1.05 628.32
3 10 0.248 1.57 942.48
4 10 0.248 2.09 1,256.64
5 10 0.248 2.62 1,570.79
6 20 0.496 0.52 314.16
7 20 0.496 1.05 628.32
8 20 0.496 1.57 942.48
9 20 0.496 2.09 1,256.64
10 20 0.496 2.62 1,570.79
11 30 0.744 0.52 314.16
12 30 0.744 1.05 628.32
13 30 0.744 1.57 942.48
14 30 0.744 2.09 1,256.64
15 30 0.744 2.62 1,570.79
16 40 0.992 0.52 314.16
17 40 0.992 1.05 628.32
18 40 0.992 1.57 942.48
19 40 0.992 2.09 1,256.64
20 40 0.992 2.62 1,570.79
Table IV Parameters for friction and wear experimentation on 21 50 1.24 0.52 314.16
multi-tribo tester (test conditions as per ASTM G77-98) 22 50 1.24 1.05 628.32
23 50 1.24 1.57 942.48
Workpiece material Titanium alloy grade 5 (Ti-6Al-4V)
24 50 1.24 2.09 1,256.64
Lubricant oil Hydrol-68
25 50 1.24 2.62 1,570.79
Counter face (roller) material EN 31 steel
Load (N) 10, 20, 30, 40, 50
Sliding velocity (m/s) 0.52, 1.05, 1.57, 2.09, 2.62
by performing experiments on a more advanced tribometer
Test duration (seconds) 600 using common commercial grade oil and this is described in
Surrounding atmosphere Ambient air the following subsections.
Relative humidity (%) 45-58
Lubrication method Surface immersion
3.1 Wear rate as a function of sliding velocity
Air temperature (8C) 23 ^ 2 The variation of wear rate for Ti-6Al-4V as a function of
sliding velocity is shown in Figure 4. It can be clearly seen that
Various combinations of different parameters for friction and for normal loads up to 50 N the wear rate decreases with
wear experimentation on multi-tribo tester for selected increasing sliding velocity. However, the wear rate at the
material, i.e. Ti-6Al-4V are given in Table V. normal load of 10 and 50 N were fluctuant, and the fluctuant
value of 10 N at sliding velocity from 1.5 to 2.6 m/s is higher
than that of 50 N. The large fluctuation in the wear rate can
3. Results and discussion be attributed due to three-body abrasion mechanism with
Miller and Holladay (1958/1959), Beck and Danovich (1969), considerably less plowing and plastic deformation, also
Giltrow (1970), Dovzhenko et al. (1972), Allen et al. titanium alloys are considered to have poor oxidative wear
(1996), Khan et al. (1999), Xuedong et al. (2000), Li et al. resistance when “tribo-chemical” reactions occur at the
(2001), Lee et al. (2008), Majumdar et al. (2008), Wang et al. contact area and this type of behaviour has also been reported
(2008), Magaziner et al. (2009) and Bansal et al. (2011) in literature (Majumdar et al., 2008; Bansal et al., 2011). The
investigated the friction and wear mechanisms of Ti-6Al-4V highest and the lowest wear rate are observed at 50 and
under lubricated condition. However, the complete 30 N normal loads, respectively. The variation of wear rate
understanding of wear and friction mechanism of titanium follows the same trend as observed by Biswas (2006). In
grade-5 under lubricated condition has not yet been achieved. general, the wear rate decreases with increasing sliding
In the present study an attempt has been made to fill this gap velocity with few exceptions.

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Mukund Dutt Sharma and Rakesh Sehgal Volume 66 · Number 2 · 2014 · 174 –183

Figure 4 Wear rate versus sliding velocity of Ti-6Al-4V under lubricated Figure 6 Average coefficient of friction versus sliding velocity of
condition at constant loads, counter face EN 31 steel Ti-6Al-4V under lubricated condition at constant normal loads,
counter face EN 31 steel
1.3x10–4 Ti-6Al-4V at 10 N
1.2x10–4 Ti-6Al-4V at 20 N Ti-6Al-4V at 10 N
1.1x10–4 Ti-6Al-4V at 30 N 0.5 Ti-6Al-4V at 20 N

Average Coefficient of Friction (µ)

Ti-6Al-4V at 40 N
1.0x10–4 Ti-6Al-4V at 30 N
Ti-6Al-4V at 50 N
Wear Rate (g/m)

9.0x10–5
8.0x10–5
7.0x10–5
6.0x10–5
5.0x10–5
4.0x10–5
3.0x10–5
2.0x10–5
1.0x10–5
0.0
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5
Sliding Velocity (m/s)
3.2 Wear rate as a function of normal load
Figure 5 gives the variation of wear rate for Ti-6Al-4V as a
function of normal load. It is observed that wear rate
decreases with increasing speed. The samples tested at sliding
velocities 1.05, 1.57, 2.09 and 2.62 m/s show the same
behaviour, i.e. from 10 to 20 N normal load the wear rate
decreases thereafter it is almost constant till 30 N, and finally
it increases from 30 to 50 N. The relation of wear rate is
directly proportional to normal load and shows linearly
increasing trend. At 0.52 m/s sliding velocity five samples out
of 25 shows fluctuating behaviour because of the introduction
of wear debris stick between the contact region led to the
three-body abrasion wear and high frictional forces at the
interface which hike the value of wear rate at lower speed.
This behaviour was not astonishing since similar results have
also been reported previously (Allen et al., 1996).
3.3 Average coefficient of friction as a function of sliding
velocity
The average coefficient of friction decreases with the increase
in sliding velocity at normal load of 20, 30 and 50 N
(Figure 6). However, the average coefficient of friction at the
Figure 5 Wear rate versus normal load of Ti-6Al-4V under lubricated
condition at constant speeds, counter face EN 31 steel
Ti-6Al-4V at 40 N
0.4
Ti-6Al-4V at 50 N
0.3
0.2
0.1
2.0 2.5
0.0
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5
Sliding Velocity (m/s)
normal load of 10 and 40 N are fluctuant, and the fluctuant
value of 40 N is higher than that of 10 N. The highest average
coefficient of friction is observed at 40 N normal load, as the
sliding velocity increases from 0.52 to 1.05 m/s, average
coefficient of friction increases, it suddenly decreases as the
sliding velocity further increases from 1.05 to 2.09 m/s and it
abruptly increases to highest value after 2.09 m/s sliding
velocity. This type of fluctuating behaviour of titanium alloy
having high friction even under lubricated condition was
basically due to the ductile nature and low work hardening
behaviour of titanium (Lee et al., 2008). An aspect common
to the entire normal load represented in Figure 6 is that three
of them (i.e. 20, 30 and 50 N) exhibited a transition of
average coefficient of friction from decreasing to increasing
beyond a critical value of sliding velocity (V).
3.4 Average coefficient of friction as a function of
normal load
The variation of average coefficient of friction for Ti-6Al-4Vas a
function of normal load is shown in Figure 7. It can be clearly
seen that for almost all speeds the average coefficient of friction
Figure 7 Average coefficient of friction versus normal load of Ti-6Al-4V
under lubricated condition at constant speeds, counter face EN 31 steel

1.4x10–4 0.55
Ti-6Al-4V at 0.52 m/s Ti-6Al-4V at 0.52 m/s
0.50
Average Coefficient of Friction (µ)

Ti-6Al-4V at 1.05 m/s Ti-6Al-4V at 1.05 m/s

1.2x10–4 0.45 Ti-6Al-4V at 1.57 m/s
Ti-6Al-4V at 1.57 m/s
Ti-6Al-4V at 2.09 m/s Ti-6Al-4V at 2.09 m/s
1.0x10–4 0.40 Ti-6Al-4V at 2.62 m/s
Ti-6Al-4V at 2.62 m/s
Wear Rate (g/m)

0.35
8.0x10–5 0.30
0.25
6.0x10–5
0.20
4.0x10–5 0.15
0.10
2.0x10–5 0.05
0.0 0.00

0 10 20 30 40 50 0 10 20 30 40 50
Load (N) Load (N)

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Mukund Dutt Sharma and Rakesh Sehgal Volume 66 · Number 2 · 2014 · 174 –183

decreases after 10 N normal load; from 20 to 50 N it shows a Figure 9 Average wear versus sliding distance of Ti-6Al-4V
fluctuating behaviour. At higher sliding velocity (i.e. 2.62 m/s) under lubricated condition at constant loads for 1.05 m/s,
the average value of coefficient of friction increases suddenly at counter face EN 31 steel
40 N normal load possibly due to frictional heating and due to
low thermal conductivity of titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V). 300 Ti-6Al-4V at 10 N
It means that lubricating oil is not very effective to control Ti-6Al-4V at 20 N
Ti-6Al-4V at 30 N
coefficient of friction because of reduction in lubricating oil film 250 Ti-6Al-4V at 40 N
thickness, which is possibly due to decrease in the viscosity of oil

Average Wear (m)

Ti-6Al-4V at 50 N
with increases in temperature at higher sliding velocity 200
(i.e. 2.62 m/s). In general, the average coefficient of friction
decreases with increasing normal load increases. 150

3.5 Average wear as a function of sliding distance 100

Figure 8 gives the variation of average wear for Ti-6Al-4V as a
function of sliding distance for sliding velocity of 0.52 m/s. It is 50
shown that the average wear increases as the sliding distance
increases for all the loads. The highest and lowest average 0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600
wear is observed at 50 and 30 N, respectively. The
Sliding Distance (m)
intermediate values of average wear are obtained at 10 and
40 N normal load. From starting 20 N gives the highest value
of average wear but after 250 m sliding distance it suddenly Figure 10 Average wear versus sliding distance of Ti-6Al-4V
decreases to intermediate value of average wear. This is under lubricated condition at constant loads for 1.57 m/s,
possibly due to the effect of lubricant used which lowers the counter face EN 31 steel
temperature and hence the average wear.
Figure 9 shows the same characteristics as shown by graph in 300
Ti-6Al-4V at 10 N
Figure 8. The highest and lowest average wear is obtained at Ti-6Al-4V at 20 N
50 and 20 N normal load, respectively. The normal load (i.e. 10, 250 Ti-6Al-4V at 30 N
Ti-6Al-4V at 40 N
30 and 40 N) gives the intermediate values of average wear. In
Average Wear (µm)

Ti-6Al-4V at 50 N
the beginning the normal load of 40 N gives highest value of 200
average wear, but after 375 m of sliding distance it suddenly
decreases to intermediate value of average wear which is 150
possibly due to the effect of lubricant used which in turn lower
the temperature and ultimately lower the average wear. 100
The variation of average wear for Ti-6Al-4V as a function of
sliding distance for 1.57 m/s sliding velocity is shown in
50
Figure 10. It is observed that the average wear increases as the
sliding distance increases for all the loads. The highest and
lowest average wear is obtained at normal load of 50 and 0
0 200 400 600 800 1,000
30 N, respectively. The intermediate values of average wear
Sliding Distance (m)
are obtained for 10, 20 and 40 N normal load.

Figure 8 Average wear versus sliding distance of Ti-6Al-4V under Figure 11 gives the variation of average wear as a function of
lubricated condition at constant loads for 0.52 m/s, counter face sliding distance at 2.09 m/s. The highest and the lowest
EN 31 steel average wear are obtained at 10 and 20 N normal loads,
respectively. The other normal loads 30, 40 and 50 N give the
300
Ti-6Al-4V at 10 N intermediate values of average wear.
Ti-6Al-4V at 20 N The variation of average wear for Ti-6Al-4V as a function of
250 Ti-6Al-4V at 30 N sliding distance for 2.62 m/s sliding velocity is shown in
Ti-6Al-4V at 40 N
Figure 12. It shows that the highest and lowest average wear is
Average Wear (µm)

Ti-6Al-4V at 50 N
200 obtained at 10 and 40 N normal load, respectively. The
intermediate values of average wear are given by 20, 30 and 50 N
150 normal load. The wear being directly proportional to sliding
distance, the trend shown by graph for all loads increase almost
100
linearly.
It is concluded from Figures 8-10 that the sliding wear
behaviour of Ti-6Al-4V under lubricated conditions follows
50
almost the same trend at sliding velocities ranging from 0.52 to
2.62 m/s and normal load ranging from 10 to 50 N with a little
0 deviation at 10 and 20 N normal loads. The possible reason for
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 this deviation may be that due to continuous sliding over the
Sliding Distance (m) same area of the EN-31 steel counter face, the wear track rapidly

179
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Mukund Dutt Sharma and Rakesh Sehgal Volume 66 · Number 2 · 2014 · 174 –183

Figure 11 Average wear versus sliding distance of Ti-6Al-4V Oil analysis helps to identify contamination, lubricant
under lubricated condition at constant loads for 2.09 m/s, counter face degradation, and abnormal machine wear. With the focus on
EN 31 steel enhanced asset reliability to avoid unscheduled machine
downtime, oil analysis is growing to be an increasingly
Ti-6Al-4V at 10 N important aspect of every organization’s predictive
400 Ti-6Al-4V at 20 N maintenance program. In this section the used lubricating oil
Ti-6Al-4V at 30 N
Ti-6Al-4V at 40 N samples at different normal loads have been analysed with the
Ti-6Al-4V at 50 N help of LNF (An ISO 4406: 1999 compliant) equipment of
Average Wear (µm)

300 Spectro Inc. company.

Figure 13 shows the shape classification of particles
collected during experimentation on titanium alloy
200 (Ti-6Al-4V) at various loads under lubricated condition.
At 10 N normal load the number of wear particles due to
fatigue and sliding mechanism are found to be the largest than
for 20, 30, 40 and 50 N normal load (in case of fatigue
100
particles 20-25 and 50-100 mm size are largest and for sliding
particles except for .100 mm size all particles are largest in
10 N normal load). This indicates that the major wear of
0
Ti-6Al-4V at 10 N normal load under lubricated condition is
0 200 400 600 800 1,000 1,200
due to fatigue and severe sliding mechanism (Raadnui, 2005)
Sliding Distance (m)
because of the particle/ml in the range of .50 mm size is
largest for 10 N load whereas the contribution of cutting
mechanism is found to be lower in comparison to 50 N
Figure 12 Average wear versus sliding distance of Ti-6Al-4V
normal load for 20-25 and 25-50 mm size, but for 50-100 mm
under lubricated condition at constant loads for 2.62 m/s, counter face
size it is higher than all loads (Figures 14-16).
EN 31 steel
The number of wear particles at 20 N normal load due to
Ti-6Al-4V at 10 N
fatigue, cutting and sliding mechanisms are found to be the
250 Ti-6Al-4V at 20 N largest than for 40 N normal load, but these mechanisms are
Ti-6Al-4V at 30 N found to be minimum for 20 N than 10, 30 and 50 N normal
Ti-6Al-4V at 40 N load with few exceptions (i.e. fatigue particles of 20-25 mm
200 Ti-6Al-4V at 50 N
Average Wear (µm)

and .100 mm size and for sliding particles of .100 mm size is

150
100
50
0
0 200 400 600 800 1,000 1,200 1,400 1,600
Sliding Distance (m)
becomes covered with a layer of transferred titanium, leading to
rise in temperature at lower sliding velocity. This may also be
due to ineffectiveness of lubricant at these loads (contact
pressures), and hence adhesive, rather than abrasive wear is
likely to be the predominant wear process. These observations
are in agreement with the reported results of Giltrow (1970).
3.6 Analysis of lubricating oil
Wear debris analysis has been carried out for the used
lubricating oil (at different loads) to identify the properties
and content of the debris carried by the oil. This helps in
identifying the degree of wear on the machinery part made of
titanium alloy by various wear mechanism such as cutting,
fatigue and sliding. As wear advances, most machines tend to
increasingly shed large particles.
The analysis of the shape, size, and concentration of these
particles offers a rather accurate picture of the wear conditions
of selected material. The importance of oil analysis is a mean of
reducing damage caused by wear or poor lubrication.
largest for 20 N than 30 and 40 N). This shows that the main
cause of Ti-6Al-4V alloy wear at 20 N normal load under
lubricated condition is basically due to fatigue mechanism
(Figures 14-16). At this load severe sliding mechanism also
acts which is larger in comparison to 40 N normal load but
smallest than the rest of the loads (Figure 16).
Wear particles due to cutting and sliding mechanisms at 30 N
are found to be the largest than 20 and 40 N normal load,
whereas the number of wear particles due to fatigue mechanism
are found to be larger than 40 N, but all these mechanisms are
found to exists to a minimum extent than for 10 and
50 N normal load. In general, this characteristic indicates that
the wear of Ti-6Al-4V at 30 N normal load under lubricated
condition is mainly due to fatigue mechanism whereas the
contribution of cutting and sliding mechanism is found to be
minimum than at 50 N and both 10 and 50 N in case of cutting
and sliding mechanism, respectively. The contribution of severe
sliding mechanism at 30 N normal load is found to be highest in
comparison to 20, 40 and 50 N but lower than at 10 N normal
load (Figures 14-16).
At 40 N normal load the number of wear particles due to
cutting, fatigue and sliding mechanism are found to be the
smallest than for 10, 20, 30 and 50 N normal load in all cases.
This indicates that at 40 N normal load lowest wear is
obtained than all other loads, however, it also shows that the
major wear of Ti-6Al-4V at 40 N normal load under
lubricated condition is due to fatigue because total
933 particles/ml are found in all range of micron size, which
is largest for causing fatigue mechanism than the other two,
i.e. cutting and sliding mechanism (Figures 14-16). Also, at
40 N normal load severe sliding mechanism has the least
participation than at other loads.

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Mukund Dutt Sharma and Rakesh Sehgal Volume 66 · Number 2 · 2014 · 174 –183

Figure 13 Particles of different types, size and shapes examined by LNF at different loads

(a) (b)

(c) (d)

(e)
Notes: (a) 10 N; (b) 20 N; (c) 30 N; (d) 40 N and (e) 50 N

Figure 14 Cutting particles found in lubricating oil at different loads Figure 15 Fatigue particles found in lubricating oil at different loads
475

1,608
1,509

500 1,800
450 1,600
400 1,400
Particles/ml

350
Particles/ml

1,200
300
772

1,000
757
726
674

629

250
590
169

800
149

500

200
382
112

600
102
92

150
107
81
79

194

400
120
58

104
48

100
50

200
15

6
6
1

1
1

50
9

4
4

0
0
0
0
0
0

0 0
20-25 25-50 50-100 > 100
20-25 25-50 50-100 > 100
Maximum Diameter (Microns)
Maximum Diameter (Microns)
10 N 20 N 30 N 40 N 50 N
10 N 20 N 30 N 40 N 50 N
the main cause of wear of Ti-6Al-4V alloy at 50 N normal load
Number of wear particles at 50 N normal load due to cutting under lubricated condition is attributed to cutting and fatigue
and fatigue mechanism are found to be the largest than for 20, mechanism, whereas the contribution of sliding mechanism is
30 and 40 N with few exceptions for 25-50 mm size in case of found to be minimum except at 10 and 30 N normal load
particles found due to cutting mechanism. This shows that (Figures 14-16). Particles of . 50 mm size causing severe

181
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Mukund Dutt Sharma and Rakesh Sehgal Volume 66 · Number 2 · 2014 · 174 –183

Figure 16 Sliding particles found in lubricating oil at different loads Figure 18 Analysis of lubricating oil at different loads

456

833,872

979,,663
500 1000,000
450 378

354
900,000

585,290
400

537,962
309

350 314 800,000

Particles/ml

255

Particles/ml
700,000

248
300
207

208
600,000

187

278,614
250 500,000
200

101,486
149,301
400,000

87,971
150

61,052
300,000

64

3,483
3,483

10,948

8,285
100

43
37

5,265
5,028
36
200,000

17
50

1
0
0
0
100,000
0 0
20-25 25-50 50-100 > 100 >4 >6 > 14
Maximum Diameter (Microns) Circular Diameter (Microns)
10 N 20 N 30 N 40 N 50 N 10 N 20 N 30 N 40 N 50 N

sliding wear mechanism at 50 N are found to be more in 4. Conclusions

comparison to 40 N normal load but less in number for all
other loads (Figure16). Material characteristics such as sliding friction and wear are
The distribution of particle concentration is shown investigated in this study for titanium grade-5 alloy using a multi-
(Figure 17) as function of maximum linear dimension in tribo tester. The effect of parameters such as sliding velocity,
NAS size bins (5-15, 15-25, 25-50, . 50 mm) for five runs of normal load and sliding distance on coefficient of friction and wear
used oil at different loads with the LNF unit. The agreement rate are evaluated for lubricated sliding friction and wear during
is quite good for the larger three bins, with larger deviations experimentation. Total 25 nos. experiments were conducted.
seen in the smallest bin, which are likely due to statistical For achieving the first objective sliding friction and wear
fluctuations because of the large number of small particles in behaviour of titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V) was investigated
the samples (especially in 10 and 50 N load oil samples). under lubricated condition by chosen commercially and most
Figure 18 shows the micron size particles/ml in oil sample commonly used lubricant having 80 centipoise viscosity and
having circular shape. These are the particles which may have 882 Kg/m3 density at 258C. After performing experiments at
enough area to only give an equivalent circular diameter of some lubricated condition second objective has been achieved by
micron size. The number count for all particles . 20 mm is evaluating the parameters such as coefficient of friction and
about one-third the count for the sum of cutting, sliding, wear rate (or average wear). The conclusions drawn from the
fatigue, and non-metallic particles. The main reason for this is results obtained are summarized as follows:
that the particle count of . 20 mm size is determined by .
The wear rate of Ti-6Al-4V alloy decreases as sliding
equivalent circular diameter. The sizes of cutting, sliding, velocity increases showing typical fluctuating
fatigue, and non-metallic particles are determined by maximum characteristics. The large fluctuation in the wear rate is
diameter (maximum chord length). Therefore, any particle not attributed to three-body abrasion mechanism with
exactly spherical will have an equivalent circular diameter less considerably less plowing and plastic deformation.
than its maximum chord length. Figure 18 also indicates that . The wear rate of Ti-6Al-4V alloy as a function of normal
the contribution of 50 N normal load for particle/ml of size load shows typical transition characteristics; first wear rate
. 4 mm are largest than all the loads, whereas for size . 6 and decreases from 10 to 20 N, remain almost same from 20 to
. 14 mm 10 N normal load is found to be highest particles/ml 30 N and afterwards it abruptly increases till 50 N.
than all the loads. .
The average coefficient of friction of the Ti-6Al-4V alloy
decreases with the increase in sliding velocity at the
normal load of 20, 30 and 50 N excluding some fluctuant
Figure 17 Total particles found in lubricating oil at different loads behaviour at normal load 10 and 40 N.
.
The average coefficient of friction of the Ti-6Al-4V alloy
809,839

955,522

1,000,000 decreases as the normal load increases excluding fluctuant

900,000 behaviour at normal load of 30 and 40 N, respectively.
572,492

800,000
529,682

.
In general, average wear increases with increase in sliding
700,000
Particles/ml

distance for all loads and at all sliding velocities with few
600,000
deviations.
267,401

500,000 .
Lubricating oil analysis results show that the major wear of Ti-
400,000
6Al-4V is found at 10 and 50 N normal load under lubricated
386

218

300,000
8,208

24,484
6,194

condition which is collectively due to fatigue and severe sliding

7,308
14,773

1,069
1,409

2,090
1,871

188
3,224

200,000
95
193

100,000 mechanism, cutting and fatigue mechanism, respectively.

0
.
Distribution of particle concentration as function of
5-15 15-25 25-50 > 50 maximum linear dimension in NAS size bins for total
Maximum Diameter (Microns)
particles found in lubricating oil shows that it is quite
good for the larger three bins, with larger deviation seen in
10 N 20 N 30 N 40 N 50 N the smallest bin.

182
 Experimental study of friction and wear characteristics
Mukund Dutt Sharma and Rakesh Sehgal
.
Any particle not exactly spherical will have an equivalent
circular diameter less than its maximum chord length and
it is found that circular diameter particles having size . 4
and .6, .14 mm are obtained in used oil at 50 and
10 N normal loads, respectively.
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Corresponding author
Rakesh Sehgal can be contacted at: rakeshsehgal.
nitham@gmail.com