TiO2-hBN nanocomposite coating with excellent wear and corrosion resistance on Ti6Al4V alloy prepared by plasma electrolytic oxidation

Hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) is recognized for its promising application prospects in anti-friction and corrosion resistance due to its self-lubrication and excellent impermeability to gases and liquids. In this study, the TiO₂-hBN nanocomposite coatings are prepared via the liquid plasma-assisted particle deposition sintering (LPDS) technology, enabling compact and uniform growth of hBN on the Ti6Al4V surface. Results indicate that the dense and stable plasma at the coating/electrolyte interface facilitates the deposition and sintering of hBN particles, effectively filling surface defects and achieving a coating density of 86.7 %. The friction coefficient of the TiO₂-hBN nanocomposite coating significantly decreases from 0.54 (titanium alloy) to 0.28, remaining stable even after 2000 sliding cycles. Compared to the substrate, the wear rate (4.3 × 10⁻⁴ mm³N⁻¹ m⁻¹) of nanocomposite coating drops by 70.8 %, which is primarily attributed to the self-lubricating property of hBN, reducing the frictional shear stress. Moreover, the TiO₂-hBN nanocomposite coating also has excellent corrosion resistance due to the hBN sheet filling internal defects and inhibiting the corrosion reaction. All these merits render the LPDS technology competitive in expanding the severe service conditions of titanium alloys in aerospace and marine engineering equipment.