The gradient crystalline structure and microhardness in the treated layer of TC17 via high energy shot peening

The gradient nanocrystalline structure from the topmost surface to the matrix of a bulk coarse-grained TC17 was attained by using high energy shot peening treatment at an air pressure of 0.35 MPa and a processing duration of 30 min. The thickness from the topmost surface with a grain size of about 10.5 nm to the matrix with a micrometer structure was about 120 μm, and the thickness in the nanocrystalline layer was about 20 μm. The microscopic and nanocrystalline structure characteristic in the treated layer were investigated via X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The nanograins layer, the nanometer-thick laminated structure layer, the refined grains layer and the low-strain matrix layer occurred in sequence from the topmost surface to the matrix, and therefore the gradient nanocrystalline structure in the treated layer was produced by using high energy shot peening. TEM investigation confirmed that the dislocation activity with very high stacking fault energy induced by surface severe plastic deformation mainly controlled the grain refinement. The microhardness (HV _0.02 ) from the topmost surface to the matrix gradually increased by 43% from 440 to 629 and the gradient variation of the microhardness with the depths from the topmost surface to the matrix of treated TC17 was obtained.