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Abstract Titanium alloys possess exceptional mechanical properties, including high specific strength, low density, and superior metallurgical characteristics. However, they are susceptible to pronounced adhesive interactions and "adhesive welding" with frictional counterparts, which poses significant challenges to their wear resistance and limits their structural applications. In this study, the strategic alloy TC4 titanium was selected to systematically investigate the friction and wear behavior of TC4 alloy against GCr15 steel balls under thermo-mechanical coupling conditions, with a focus on elucidating the underlying wear mechanisms and characteristics. The results demonstrate that the coefficient of friction and wear characteristics exhibit distinct trends under varying thermo-mechanical coupling conditions. Specifically, the coefficient of friction displays a saw-tooth fluctuation pattern and generally decreases with increasing load and temperature. An increase in load markedly enhances both wear volume and wear rate. At temperatures below 300°C, thermal softening accelerates wear; however, when the temperature exceeds 300°C, the emergence of a third body phase serves as a solid lubricant, thereby effectively suppressing wear. With increasing normal load, adhesive wear, abrasive wear, and fatigue spalling emerge as the predominant failure mechanisms, resulting in a substantial increase in the material removal rate. As the ambient temperature rises, interfacial oxidation reactions become more pronounced, and the synergistic effects of oxidative wear, third-body abrasive wear introduced by the formation of a third-body phase, and fatigue wear significantly modify the overall wear behavior.In summary, elucidating the wear mechanisms of TC4 alloy under thermomechanical coupling is of considerable significance for engineering applications. This study establishes a scientific foundation for material selection, surface modification, and service life prediction in environments characterized by high temperature, heavy load, or thermal cycling, thereby improving reliability and reducing maintenance costs.