Combining laser transformation hardening and ultrasonic impact strain hardening for enhanced wear resistance of AISI 1045 steel

Abstract

A medium-carbon steel AISI 1045 was hardened by a laser heat treatment (LHT), a multi-pin ultrasonic impact treatment (UIT), and two combined laser-ultrasonic surface treatments (UIT + LHT and LHT + UIT processes) to improve the wear resistance of the surface layer. The paper is focused on detecting the relationship between the surface roughness and microstructure, phase state, hardness, residual stress of the specimens hardened by the LHT, UIT and combined UI + LHT/LHT + UIT processes, and their wear and friction behaviors. The hardened plane specimens were examined after the short-term (15 min) and long-term (45 min) wear tests under oil-lubricated conditions in the quasi-static and dynamic loads. The analysis of the surface morphologies and cross-section profiles of the worn tracks were assessed by an optical 3D measurement system and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The wear mechanisms are also discussed. Results showed that the combined LHT + UIT treatment provides a lower surface roughness (Ra ~0.25 μm) and a highest surface hardness (~11,000 HV0.05) while the combined UIT + LHT treatment leads to the deeper hardened zone by 1.5–2 times. As compared to the untreated specimen (dynamic tests), the wear loss magnitudes were respectively decreased by ~5%, 35%, 42%, and 84% after the UIT, LHT, combined UIT + LHT and LHT + UIT processes. The LHT + UIT-processed specimen has the highest wear resistance owing to the formation of the fine-grained martensitic microstructure, more flattened surface microrelief, and the absence of the oxide film.