Improvement of Titanium Alloy (Ti-15-3) Wear Resistance and Hardness by Solution Treatment and Aging to Pioneer Sustainable and Environmentally Friendly Manufacturing

Titanium is a metal that has good mechanical properties and is used for a number of purposes. However, titanium alloy does has some limitation; first, it has lower hardness and second, it has poor abrasion resistance; this can be overcome by proper solution treatment and aging (STA) processes. This research aims to determine the effect of STA temperatures on the hardness and wear resistance of Ti-15-3 alloy. STA method involved heating the material at temperatures of 950°C, 1000°C, and 1050°C and then performing quenching in water. This was followed by aging at 450°C for 4 hours. Hardness test showed that the highest value recorded was 1050°C. Microstructure of titanium alloys is the most important aspect when determining these alloys’ characteristics related to size, arrangement, and volume fractions of alpha and beta phases. Wear resistance testing performed under this research showed that the highest value was 950°C. Surface roughness testing yielded a maximum value of 1050°C. Therefore, wear resistance is another factor which contributes to longer lifetime if Ti-15-3 is used. This longer lifespan means fewer replacements and repairs, which decreases the consumption of raw materials and energy resources over time. Consequently, such minimization of material use and lower energy consumption leads to decreased environmental effects from the production processes including reduced green gas emissions and waste generation.