A multi-step process of oxygen diffusion to improve the wear performance of a gamma-based titanium aluminide

A gamma-based titanium aluminide with the composition of Ti–45Al–2Nb–2Mn–1B (at%) was surface treated through a process in which thermal oxidation in air and diffusion were carried out in several steps to investigate the effect of oxide forming elements and diffusion of oxygen on the wear performance of surface layers. The microstructure and phases on the surface were characterized using optical and electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and glow discharge spectroscopy (GDS).