Study of wear-resistant properties of laser-based nitrided titanium alloy surfaces and data matrix code marking application

Abstract

To enhance the tribological properties of titanium alloy surfaces, this study employed a combination of laser nitriding and texture weaving to construct nitrided surfaces with periodic textures on Ti6Al4V substrates. The prepared nitrided surfaces exhibited superior wear resistance, and the effects of various laser process parameters on wear resistance were systematically investigated. Detailed analyses of microhardness, phase composition, and elemental distribution were conducted to elucidate the wear mechanisms. At a laser power of 12 W and a scanning speed of 15 mm/s, the nitrided surface achieved a hardness of approximately 1300 HV_0.2, with wear scar dimensions of 3.35 µm in depth, 475 µm in width, and a wear mass loss of 106 mg. Additionally, the influence of laser parameters on the contrast and print growth of nitrided Data Matrix code modules was evaluated to assess their readability. The results demonstrate that laser gas nitriding with texture weaving significantly improves the wear resistance of titanium alloy surfaces and the durability of Data Matrix codes, offering new possibilities for designing multifunctional surfaces and high-performance marking applications.