Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Sliding wear is a complicated form of wear involving different factors. The factors affecting the process are the mechanical properties of the materials, sliding distance, sliding speed, and normal force applied to the contact. An experimental study was conducted to assess the performance of Ti6Al4V in self-mated and various counterface material contact couples subjected to linear reciprocating dry sliding motion. The normal force was varied for all the experiments to understand the effect it had on specific couples. Sliding wear experiments were also conducted on cemented carbides coupled with Ti6Al4V. In certain applications carbide coatings are used and could possibly come into contact with Ti6Al4V. Cemented carbides used in the study were manufactured through spark plasma sintering and liquid phase sintering. An in depth study was conducted to assess the spark plasma sintered materials and compare these to those manufactured through liquid phase sintering. The experimental study revealed that an increase in normal force, in sliding experiments, led to an increase in friction and wear volume loss of the Ti6Al4V pin. In addition the experiments found that Ti6Al4V was prone to adhesion and surface oxidation. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Glyslytasie is 'n gekompliseerde slytasievorm wat verskillende faktore behels.Die faktore wat die proses beïnvloed is die meganiese eienskappe van die materiale,gly-afstand,glyspoed en normale druk(krag) wat op die kontakoppervlakte toegepas word. 'n Eksperimentele studie om die werksverrigting van Ti6Al4V in verenigde en verskeie teenwerkende materiaal kontakpare wat onderwerp is aan lineêre omgekeerde droë gly-aksie te assesseer is uitgevoer.Die normale krag vir al die eksperimente om die effek wat dit op die spesifieke pare gehad het te verstaan is gevarieer. Glyslytasie-eksperimente is ook op gesementeerde karbiedes wat met Ti6Al4V gekoppel is,uitgevoer. In sekere toepassings is karbiedlae gebruik en kon moontlik met Ti6Al4V in kontak gekom het. Gesementeerde karbiedes wat in die studie gebruik is, is deur vonkplasmasinter en vloeibare fase-sinter vervaardig. 'n Indieptestudie is ook uitgevoer om die vonkplasmasintermateriale en dié materiale wat deur vloeibare fasesinter vervaardig is te vergelyk. Die eksperimentele studie het getoon dat 'n toename in normale krag in glyeksperimente gelei het tot 'n toename in wrywing en slytasievolumeverlies van die Ti6Al4V pin. Bykomend tot die eksperimente is gevind dat Ti6Al4V geneig was tot adhesie en oppervlakteoksidasie.