Abstract
This paper explores the consequences of applying an ultrasonic vibration-assisted ball burnishing process and its non-vibration assisted version on the topology and subsurface microstructure of a transformation-induced plasticity AISI 301LN alloy. More specifically, four different metallographic conditions provided as 1.5-mm thickness sheets and characterized by different starting martensite content (3, 10, 20 and 40 wt.%) are included in the study. Ball burnishing was performed along the lamination direction and perpendicular to it. Results show that the effect of ball burnishing is strongly correlated with the pre-existing microstructure. The steel containing the lowest quantity of initial martensite is the most affected by the process, achieving a higher residual hardening effect, similar to the untreated steel with an original martensitic content of around 40 wt.%. Moreover, the process succeeds in generating a 100-nm thick nanograin layer under the plate subsurface. Finally, no conspicuous effect of the application of vibration assistance was observed, which encourages the application of alternative measurement techniques in future works to define its effect on the properties after being ball burnished.
Highlights
Fuel economy and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions have become a key factor for innovation in the automotive industry, given the restrictions imposed by the European Union after the environmental crisis
This paper explores the consequences of applying an ultrasonic vibration-assisted ball burnishing process and its non-vibration assisted version on the topology and subsurface microstructure of a transformation-induced plasticity AISI 301LN alloy
The material used in order to conduct this research was a metastable austenitic stainless steel AISI 301LN provided by OCAS NV Arcelor-Mittal R&D Industry Gent (Belgium) as sheets of 1.5-mm thickness
Summary
Fuel economy and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions have become a key factor for innovation in the automotive industry, given the restrictions imposed by the European Union after the environmental crisis. Besides low density-to-strength ratio, materials for the automotive industry must have a good formability to facilitate its processing and good energy absorption to guarantee passengers integrity in case of an accident. All these factors have lead car manufacturers to search for advanced materials and processes that can offer an enhanced service with a lowest weight and price of the final product. In this context, advanced high strength steels are one of the most valued materials, especially multiphase steels with good ductility properties that can be maintained without compromising the required high strength. Metastable austenitic stainless steels are distinguished by their susceptibility to the Transformation Induced Plasticity (TRIP)
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