Effect of the conventional shot peening and multiple shot peening on microstructure and residual stress of TC17 titanium alloy

Abstract

This study examines the residual stress, microstructure, and stress-induced phase transformation of TC17 titanium alloy after different shot peening processes. A comprehensive analysis of the unique impact of shot peening on α-Ti and β-Ti was performed. The results indicate a substantial reduction in the grain size of the deformed layer and the creation of a high density of dislocations. Additionally, increased peening intensity results in decreased grain size, and multiple shot peening promotes further reduction in grain size. Compressive residual stresses were detected in the deformed layer, and multiple shot peening significantly augmented the residual stresses in the surface and near-surface regions. In particular, the highest compressive residual stresses after triple shot peening treatments were measured at −1079 MPa (at a depth of 10 μm for α-Ti) and −792 MPa (at a depth of 50 μm for β-Ti). In addition, multiple shot peening can significantly reduce surface roughness and enhance surface nanocrystallization when approximate surface residual stresses are obtained. Remarkably, the use of single shot peening revealed parallel stacking faults in certain α-Ti samples. However, under multiple shot peening, these stacking faults evolved into face-centered cubic Ti (FCC-Ti) with broader widths and a greater number. The stress-induced phase transition orientation relation was determined to be (0001)HCP//(11¯1)FCC and [21¯1¯0]HCP//[011]FCC, with α-Ti grains being interspersed with FCC-Ti, thus promoting additional grain refinement.