Ion nitriding of aging (alpha+beta) titanium alloys

Titanium alloys occupy an important place among modem high-strength structural materials due to a unique combination of physical, chemical, mechanical, and technological properties. However, the wear resistance of titanium alloys is not high. For this reason it is important to increase the service life of parts made of various titanium alloys that operate under conditions of abrasion and erosion wear. This paper concerns the possibility of using ion nitriding of (alpha + beta) titanium alloys at low temperatures corresponding to the aging temperature range (500 - 650 degrees C). Regimes for treating titanium alloys that provide strengthened layers of the requisite thickness and quality are suggested in order to increase their abrasion and erosion wear resistance while preserving the mechanical characteristics.