A combined surface treatment of surface texturing-double glow plasma surface titanizing on AISI 316 stainless steel to combat surface damage: Comparative appraisals of corrosion resistance and wear resistance

In the present work, a combined surface treatment of surface texturing-double glow plasma surface titanizing was performed on AISI 316 stainless steel (316 SS) to improve its wear resistance. Microstructural characteristics, surface hardness and bonding strength of the titanized 316 SS (T-316 SS) were systematically characterized. Comparative appraisals of anti-corrosion property and wear resistance for related samples of ground 316 SS (G-316 SS), surface textured 316 SS (ST-316), T-316 SS and duplex treated 316 SS (DT-316 SS) were conducted via series of laboratory tests. The results revealed that there were continuous, compact and uniform coatings on the surfaces of T-316 SS and DT-316 SS with a thickness of about 10 μm. The concentration of Ti indicated a gradient distribution from the surface to the internal of the T-316 SS. Double glow plasma surface titanizing treatment has enhanced the surface hardness of the 316 SS, and the obtained titanizing coating was strongly bonded with the 316 SS substrate. It was seen that the ST-316 SS, T-316 SS and DT-316 SS presented improved corrosion resistance in comparison to the G-316 SS in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution according to the electrochemical tests. The ST-316 SS, T-316 SS and DT-316 SS also suggested better wear resistance than that of the 316 SS in tribological tests against GCr15 and Si₃N₄ balls under dry sliding and grease lubrication. The excellent anti-corrosion property and wear resistance of the T-316 SS and DT-316 SS were mainly benefited from its good chemical stability, high hardness and strong bonding strength. Meanwhile, the formed surface texture on the surfaces of the ST-316 SS and DT-316 SS contributed positively to their surface performance. By taking advantages of surface texturing and surface modification, surface texturing-double glow plasma surface titanizing duplex treatment was established to create on the working surface of 316 SS with promisingly improved corrosion resistance and wear resistance. The results might also provide reference data for surface strengthen of austenitic stainless steel via surface texturing-double glow plasma surface alloying duplex treatment.