Surface engineering of titanium alloys for wear protection

This paper describes the reasons for the generally poor tribological behavi our of titanium alloys. It describes surface engineering processes currentl y used in the protection of titanium alloy surfaces against wear including plasma spraying, physically vapour-deposited coatings, electrolytic and ele ctroless plating, ion implantation and anodizing. The advantages and disadv antages of the various processes ape indicated and typical components treat ed by these processes are described. Thermochemical processes and energy beam alloying surface engineering proce sses applied to titanium alloys are described in greater detail. Contempora ry research and development in these areas are described, particularly wher e the objective is the production of surface hardening to depths comparable with those used in conventional transmission materials such as in nitrided steels.