Evaluation of Surface Finishing Efficiency of Titanium Alloy Grade 5 (Ti–6Al–4V) After Superfinishing Using Abrasive Films

Abstract

Ti–6Al–4V is the most commonly used alpha–beta titanium alloy, making it the most prevalent among all titanium alloys. The processed material is widely employed in aerospace, medical, and other industries requiring moderate strength, a good strength-to-weight ratio, and favorable corrosion resistance. A microfinishing process on the titanium alloy surface was conducted using abrasive films with grain sizes of 30, 12, and 9 μm. Superfinishing with abrasive films is a sequential process, where finishing operations are performed with tools of progressively smaller grains. The surface topography measurements of the workpiece were taken after each operation. The experiment was in the direction of developing a new surface smoothness coefficient considering the number and distribution of contact points so as to properly evaluate the quality of the surface finishing. The results showed that the finest-grain films gave the most uniform contact points, thus offering the best tribological characteristics; the 9 LF (micron lapping film) tools gave the smoothest surfaces (Sz = 2 µm), while the biggest-grain films, such as the 30 FF (micron microfinishing film), were less effective since large protrusions formed. This is a suitable study to explore the optimization paths for the superfinishing of titanium alloys, with implications for improving the performance and longevity of components in critical industrial applications.