Effect of plasma nitriding on microstructure and properties of plated-nitrided Ti-N layer on titanium alloy

doi:10.13251/j.issn.0254-6051.2025.03.044

Abstract

Abstract: By magnetron sputtering metal Ti thin film on the TC21 titanium alloy surface, and then the alloy with pre-fabricated Ti film was plasma nitrided at 580 ℃, the plated-nitrided Ti-N layer on the TC21 titanium alloy surface was prepared, and the effects of different N₂/H₂ ratios during the plasma nitriding process on the structure and properties of the plated-nitrided Ti-N layer were studied. The results indicate that the pre-deposited Ti metal film promotes the effective diffusion and reaction of nitrogen atoms, achieving low-temperature plasma plating-and-nitriding composite strengthening on the surface of the titanium alloy. The plated-nitrided Ti-N layer is mainly consisted of ε-Ti₂N, TiN and ɑ-Ti phases, and the relative content of brittle phase ε-Ti₂N decreases with the increase of N₂/H₂ ratio, resulting in the improvement of adhesion strength. The microhardness and wear resistance of the titanium alloy are significantly enhanced by the plating-and-nitriding composite strengthening. When the N₂/H₂ ratio is 3∶1, the hardness of the plated-nitrided Ti-N layer reaches a maximum of 725 HK0.05.

Key words: titanium alloy, plasma nitriding, plated-nitrided Ti-N layer, microstructure, hardness, wear resistance

CLC Number:

TG156.8

Li Yuechen, Gu Jin, Zhang Lin, Xie Huanjun, Zheng Jun, Yuan Jing. Effect of plasma nitriding on microstructure and properties of plated-nitrided Ti-N layer on titanium alloy[J]. Heat Treatment of Metals, 2025, 50(3): 277-283.

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