Influence of Volumetric Energy Density on Microstructure Evolution and Tribo-Corrosion Properties of LPBF-Fabricated Ti–4Cu alloy

• Published in: Metals and materials international Vol. 30; no. 7; pp. 2023 - 2037
• Main Authors: Ye, Xiu, Miao, Xiaojin, Shi, Xiaojie, Wu, Meiping
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Seoul The Korean Institute of Metals and Materials 2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Bacterial corrosion; Beds (process engineering); Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Copper; Corrosion; Corrosion resistance; Corrosive wear; Engineering Thermodynamics; Heat and Mass Transfer; Machines; Magnetic Materials; Magnetism; Manufacturing; Materials Science; Metallic Materials; Microstructure; Oxide coatings; Powder beds; Process parameters; Processes; Sliding friction; Solid Mechanics; Specific gravity; Surface roughness; Surgical implants; Titanium alloys; Titanium base alloys; Wear rate; Wear resistance; Ti–4Cu alloy; Laser powder bed fusion (LPBF); Volumetric energy density; Tribo-corrosion
• ISSN: 1598-9623; 2005-4149
• DOI: 10.1007/s12540-023-01615-3

Adding appropriate amount of copper to titanium alloy can improve the wear resistance, biological corrosion resistance and antimicrobial properties of titanium-based human implants. In this work, the effect of laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) process parameters (volumetric energy density, VED) on the forming quality and tribo-corrosion of Ti–4wt%Cu (Ti–4Cu) alloy was systematically investigated. The results revealed that the relative density and untreated surface roughness of the Ti–4Cu alloy fabricated by LPBF can reach 99.9% and 11.5 μm, respectively. The microstructure of Ti–4Cu at different volumetric energy densities alloy was mainly composed of acicular α-Ti phase and a small amount of Ti 2 Cu. In addition, the tribo-corrosion results confirmed that friction and corrosion are mutually promoting processes. Under the impact of the corrosion medium, Ti–4Cu alloy formed a loose and rough oxide film, which could be easily removed in the sliding friction process, thus accelerating the wear process, and the constant exposure of fresh surface caused by wear also accelerated the corrosion process. The volume wear rates under pure friction and tribo-corrosion conditions of the Ti–4Cu samples fabricated at VED of 66.67 J/mm 3 were 1.03 * 10 −6  mm 2 /N and 1.25 * 10 −6  mm 2 /N, respectively. This work highlights the importance of VED on the microstructure and tribo-corrosion properties of LPBF-fabricated Ti–4Cu alloys, which is of great significance for broadening the medical applications of Ti–Cu alloys. Graphical Abstract