Effects of ultrasonic surface rolling process on tribological behavior of 4Cr13 stainless steel

Abstract Ultrasonic surface rolling (USR) process is a novel surface strengthening technique based on the tool head's high-frequency impact on the workpiece. USR can cause severe plastic deformation on the superficial surface of metal material, and greatly improving the mechanical properties of the material. This paper elucidates the effects of USR passes on the surface roughness, sample height, microstructure, microhardness, residual stress, and tribological properties of 4Cr13 stainless steel. The results revealed that multiple USR treatments refined the near-surface layer grain of the sample. Compared with untreated sample, USR treatments significantly improved the surface roughness and microhardness of the samples. Obvious compressive residual stress and plastic deformed with a maximum value of about -723 MPa and a depth of about 229 μm were also introduced into the sample surface. Under a dry friction environment, the samples that underwent the USR treatments exhibited significantly enhanced wear resistance, and six rolling passes were found to be the most suitable treatment.