Experimental Optimization of Dry Sliding Wear Behavior of Titanium Matrix Composites Using Taguchi Methods

Abstract

Titanium and its alloys have high specific tensile strength and exhibit poor wear resistance. To improve their wear resistance, ceramic-particulate reinforced titanium matrix composites (TMCs) are fabricated by a spark plasma sintering process (SPS). The wear behavior of the TMCs depends on various factors, such as the matrix and reinforcement materials, reinforcement volume fraction, applied load, sliding load, sliding distance, and sliding velocity. The influencing factors on the wear behavior of TMCs in Taguchi methods are classified as either noise factors or control factors. Noise factors include load, sliding velocity, and sliding distance, and control factors include type, shape, particle size of matrix material, type of reinforcement material, and reinforcement volume fraction. In this study, the control factors were selected for optimization by Taguchi methods. Experiments were conducted systematically based on an L₁₈ orthogonal array of the methods. Wear tests were carried out using a three-ball-on-disk machine. The results indicated that the wear behavior of TMCs was affected by three factors, namely, the type of reinforcement material, the reinforcement volume fraction, and the type of matrix material, but was not affected by two factors, namely, the shape of the matrix material and the particle size of the matrix material. An Si₃N₄-reinforced hydride-dehydrate Ti matrix composite with 10 vol.% reinforcement showed good wear resistance.