Effect of graphene on the tribological behavior of Ti6Al6V2Sn/Gn composite produced via microwave sintering

Titanium alloys are widely used in various industrial applications due to their excellent properties. Due to its excellent heat conductivity and stability, graphene (Gn) can help Ti components last longer and experience less wear. In the current study, Ti6Al6V2Sn (Ti662) with various wt.% Gn was produced. The composite samples were subjected to metallurgical characterization to analyze the influence of Gn addition in the microstructure and phases formed. The properties such as microhardness and wear resistance were analyzed for all the samples. Variations in the load, sliding velocity, and distance were made during the wear test, and the effects of these factors on the wear rate and morphology of the worn surface were examined. Mechanical property analysis revealed that Ti662 + 0.5Gn exhibited the highest microhardness of 514.32HV, which was 1.45 times that of the matrix material. The sample with 0.5Gn exhibited increased wear resistance, the order of wear resistance observed was Ti662 + 0.5Gn > Ti662 + 0.75Gn > Ti662+1Gn > Ti662 + 0.25Gn > Ti662. The wear rate was reduced by 44.15 % at 40 N, 42.07 % and 52.02 % at 1.5 m/s and 2000 m for Ti662 + 0.5Gn composite. Worn surface morphology revealed that at elevated loads, abrasive and delamination wear was observed while at elevated velocity and distance, the formation of mechanically mixed layer (MML) was observed.