Producing Sustainable Nanostructures in Ti-6Al-4V Alloys for Improved Surface Integrity and Increased Functional Life in Aerospace Applications by Cryogenic Burnishing

Abstract

Finishing processes such as shot peening, polishing and burnishing have a major influence on the functional performance of manufactured components. In this study, cryogenic burnishing is investigated as a low-force technique for imparting nanostructured grains and hardness increase in the processed surface layers of Ti-6Al-4V alloy. Using a multi-pass approach, deflection of the workpiece can be significantly reduced, allowing for processing of thin walled aerospace components such as turbine blades. Looking forward, the ability to design and manufacture nanostructured components at industrial scales is envisioned to enable the creation of new products with engineered surface layers for improved functional performance.