In-situ micro-CT investigation into wear behavior of Ti-6Al-4V: From ambient to elevated temperatures

Understanding the three-dimensional evolution of internal damage within contact zones during wear is critical for failure analysis, yet it remains experimentally challenging, particularly at elevated temperatures. In this study, a dedicated in-situ wear testing system compatible with computed tomography (CT) and capable of operating at up to 380 °C was developed to address this gap. Rotational wear tests were performed on Ti-6Al-4V alloy at 25 °C, 200 °C, and 350 °C, and a "wear–pause–scan" strategy was employed to capture the progressive evolution of the contact interface. The results reveal a temperature-dependent evolution of the contact state and a corresponding shift in the dominant wear mechanism, underscoring the close coupling between interfacial structural evolution and macroscopic friction behavior. This work demonstrates the feasibility of in-situ, three-dimensional observation of the wear process from ambient to elevated temperatures for the first time, providing a versatile experimental platform that can be extended to a wide range of materials and contact configurations.