The Effects of Ultrasonic Nanocrystal Surface Modification Technique Temperature on Microstructure and Wear of Alloy 600

Abstract

Alloy 600 (UNS N06600) is an austenitic nickel-based alloy with superior corrosion resistance and high-temperature endurance, which determines its widespread applications in aeronautical, aerospace, marine and nuclear industries. Particularly, a number of nuclear components used Alloy 600 as their structure materials due to their high corrosion resistance, high-temperature endurance and excellent fabricant characteristics. Many failures have occurred in Alloy 600 with various forms of environmental degradations during long-term operation. In this study, an ultrasonic nanocrystal surface modification (UNSM) technique was applied to Alloy 600 at a room and a high temperature of 500 OC. The effects of UNSM treatment temperature on the microstructure and wear behavior including a compressive residual stress were investigated. The hardness, compressive residual stress with respect to depth from the top surface were measured. Also, the wear behavior of UNSM-treated at a room and a high temperature Alloy 600 specimen was compared to that of the untreated specimen. The increase in wear resistance by UNSM technique was discussed in terms of increased hardness, refined grain size and induced compressive residual stress.