Tailoring tribological properties in Titanium alloy via pulse Laser-induced textures: A review

Abstract

Titanium alloys are widely used in fields such as aerospace and medicine due to their high specific strength, corrosion resistance, excellent mechanical properties, and biocompatibility. However, the performance of titanium alloys in practical applications is affected by their poor tribological properties. Surface texturing based on biomimetic and tribological design effectively controls the tribological properties of materials. In recent years, various techniques for surface texturing have been developed. Among these techniques, laser processing demonstrates significant advantages, including high efficiency, cleanliness, accuracy, flexibility, and controllability. Consequently, it has attracted considerable attention. This paper reviews the current research on the effect of laser surface texturing on the tribological performance of titanium alloys. Commonly used laser processing techniques are introduced. By varying different laser parameters, the geometric characteristics and morphology of the surface texture of titanium alloys can be affected. The focus is on summarizing the effects of surface texturing on the tribological performance of titanium alloys, with a particular emphasis on friction and wear behavior under both dry and lubricated conditions. The primary mechanisms of friction reduction and wear resistance are explored: (1) Surface texturing can reduce the actual contact area between surfaces. (2) Surface texturing can also capture wear debris and enable the adsorption and retention of lubricants, reducing abrasive wear on the surface. Additionally, new processes that combine surface texturing with coating treatments are introduced. Finally, the future application prospects and development directions of laser-processed surface texturing on titanium alloys are discussed.