Superficial Effects of Ball Burnishing on TRIP Steel AISI 301LN Sheets

This paper explores the consequences of applying an ultrasonic vibration-assisted ball burnishing process and its non-vibration assisted version on topology subsurface microstructure a transformation-induced plasticity AISI 301LN alloy. More specifically, four different metallographic conditions provided as 1.5-mm thickness sheets characterized by starting martensite content (3, 10, 20 40 wt.%) are included in study. Ball was performed along lamination direction perpendicular to it. Results show that effect is strongly correlated with pre-existing microstructure. The steel containing lowest quantity initial most affected process, achieving higher residual hardening effect, similar untreated original martensitic around wt.%. Moreover, succeeds generating 100-nm thick nanograin layer under plate subsurface. Finally, no conspicuous application vibration assistance observed, which encourages alternative measurement techniques future works define properties after being burnished.