Analysis of surface mechanical attrition treated AISI 316L Steel: Variation in nanomechanical response within the treated layer

Abstract

This study focuses on investigating the surface layer of AISI 316L steel attrition-treated using 6 mm diameter balls (colliding the steel surface in random directions). A highly dense network of the deformation bands is observed near the attrition-treated surface. The average spacing between the deformation bands increases with an increase in distance from the treated surface. The formation of ~ 43% deformation-induced martensite (DIM) in the surface layer and ~ 38% improvement in the surface hardness are observed for the specimen treated with ~ 10 m/s velocity balls. Nanomechanical properties in the severely deformed surface layer change with an increase in distance from the surface due to the change in microstructure. The strain-rate sensitivity (SRS) and activation volume are increased with an increasing distance from the treated surface. Modulus of the severely deformed zone near the surface is slightly higher than the succeeding zone near the core. Presence of DIM causes lower SRS of the attrition-treated surface. © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.