Study of the tribological performance of Ti6Al4V textured with pyramidal dimples by electro discharge machining

Abstract Surface texturing has demonstrated to be a useful technique for improving the tribological performance of surfaces in contact. In particular, in this research it has been applied to the Ti6Al4V titanium alloy, with poor tribological behaviour, by creating different texturing densities with pyramidal geometries. Additionally, these geometries have been obtained through sinking electro-discharge machining processes, scarcely addressed in the scientific literature. In dry sliding conditions, the results obtained show an improvement of about 65% in the coefficient of friction, while in lubricated contact, the improvement in the lubricant retention capacity results in the formation of an abrasive paste formed by the lubricant and the wear debris, which worsens tribological behaviour.