Enhancing wear resistance of aluminum alloy by fabricating a Ti-Al modified layer via surface mechanical attrition treatment

The limited wear resistance of aluminum alloys hinders their application in lightweight equipment. Herein, we present the successful fabrication of a Ti -Al modified layer on the surface of aluminum alloy 2024 via surface mechanical attrition treatment (SMAT-Ti). Tribological assessments indicate an improvement in tribological performance. Specifically, the average friction coefficient and wear rate of the SMAT-Ti treated sample decreased by 49.1% and 81.9%, respectively, compared to untreated sample. Analysis of wear surfaces and molecular dynamics simulations demonstrate that the improvements observed can be attributed to the wear -resistant tribofilm formation. Furthermore, the integration of Ti particles beneath the subsurface facilitates the formation of HCP bands and dislocation locks. These microstructural changes obstruct frictional shear deformation and crack propagation, effectively reducing wear.