Elevated-temperature wear behaviour of LPBF Ti-6Al-4V for aero-engine turbine applications

The elevated-temperature wear properties of Ti-6Al-4V alloy synthesised by laser powder bed fusion is thoroughly examined in this work, with an emphasis on its suitability for use in aero-engine turbine conditions. Using a pin-on-disc tribometer, systematic dry sliding wear studies were executed throughout a temperature range from 150°C to 350°C by adjusting important factors such as sliding speed, normal load, and sliding time. With values ranging from 0.0076 g at 150°C to 0.0220 g at 350°C, the results demonstrate that wear loss raises dramatically with temperature and normal load, clearly showing a shift from mild to severe wear regimes. Temperature-dependent oxidation behaviour was shown by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), where material degradation is accelerated at elevated temperatures because of the instability of protective oxide layers, which limit wear at intermediate temperatures. The development of wear processes from mild adhesive and abrasive wear at lower temperatures to severe oxidative, delamination, and three-body abrasive wear at higher temperatures was verified by FESEM analysis. The results provide a basis for developing LPBF Ti-6Al-4V components for high-temperature aerospace applications and emphasise the crucial role that oxidation and load play in controlling wear performance.