Effect of micro ploughing during fine particle peening process on the microstructure of metallic materials

In this study, the mechanism of microstructural changes induced by fine particle peening (FPP) treatment was analyzed. Ti–6Al–4V alloy specimens treated with FPP, using tool steel particles with a peening time ranging from 0.1 to 30 s were prepared and examined. Observation of the specimen with short-term FPP treatment revealed that two types of collision dents were formed by the micro abrasive behavior between collided particles and specimen surface. One was the “indented dent,” formed by particles that collided with the surface vertically, and the other was the “ploughed dent,” accompanied by a heap of piled-up material that was ploughed aside during the formation of this dent. Analyses using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) revealed the presence of particle fragments transferred to the ploughed dents, although no fragments were observed on the indented dents. With an increase in peening time, transferred fragments were embedded into treated materials by deformed material due to a micro ploughing effect. The Fe-rich region became deeper as the particle fragments were embedded. Finally, a lamellar microstructure with a high concentration of Fe was formed by FPP treatment. The effects of micro ploughing during the FPP process on the lamellar modified microstructure formation were clarified. One effect was an enhancement of metal transfer from particles to substrate because virgin metallic surface was exposed; and the other was the mechanical mixing of transferred elements into the substrate.