Advanced Materials Research Online: 2011-11-22

ISSN: 1662-8985, Vols. 393-395, pp 67-71

doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.393-395.67
© 2012 Trans Tech Publications Ltd, Switzerland

Effect of High-Energy Shot-peening on H13 Tool Steel Ion-nitriding

Zhilan REN 1, a, Xinheng Wang 2,b

1
Deparement of Mechanical Engineering, Hunan Institute of Technology,
Hengyang Hunan 421002, China
2
Institute of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, Hunan Institute of Technology,
Hengyang Hunan 421002, China
a
rzhlan@163.com, b wxinheng@yahoo.com.cn

Keywords: high-energy shot-peening,H13 steel,ion-nitriding,microstructure, Surface phase

structure, Corrosion resistance

Abstract: High-energy shot-peening on H13 steel after quenched. The samples with or without
high-energy shot-peening were ion-nitrided at 520℃ for 3h．The Microstructure，nitriding depth,
hardness gradient, surface phase and Corrosion resistance of the nitride layers were compared
between the high-energy shot-peening samples and the original samples using optical microscope,
micro-hardness tester, X-ray diffraction and CH1660A electrochemical test. Results show that the
high-energy shot-peening greatly speeds up the nitriding on the H13 steel at 520℃ for 3h.. The
depth of ion-nitriding layer after shot peening is from 0.11mm to 0.16mm, micro-hardness of the
surface layer is from 998HV0.5 to 1105HV0.5, The hardness gradient is slightly flat . Phase
structure and content of the surface is different by Powerful shot-peening and not. Corrosion
resistance of the samples by high-energy shot-peening is significantly improved because it is easier
to form a stable passive film.

Introduction
Shot peening is an effective methods of widely used treatment to improve the fatigue life of parts.
Especially, high-energy shot peening promote a strong hardening by it produce a local plastic
deformation of the metal surface, surface retained austenite transformed into martensite by
deformation induced, It can also promote grain refinement of the workpiece surface, add to
dislocation density, increases lattice distortion, obtain useful surface residual stress, thus it Improve
the fatigue limit of the surface parts [1-3].
Ion-nitriding is fast, nitriding quality is high, deformation of the workpiece is small, it caters to
many materials to be obtained widely used. Ion-nitriding significantly improved the toughness and
fatigue strength of the nitriding as its cathode sputtering can Inhibit the generation of brittle layer.
The size of the workpiece slightly reduced as the effects of cathode sputtering, It can offset the size
increases because of the nitride formation, so the effect of ion nitriding in precision mold surface
treatment is remarkable[4].
At present, domestic and foreign researchers in order to obtain a better performance of the nitriding
layer, the titanium and rare earth elements added in order to promote the nitriding process [5-6].
This paper study the high-energy shot peening process used on H13 hot work die steel, then
ion-nitriding process on it. The microstructure, hardness distribution, corrosion resistance, nitriding
depth and phase structure of the surface were determined under two conditions of shot in
high-energy ion-nitriding and directly ion nitriding. It provide a reference for the technology better
used in industrial production.

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68 Biotechnology, Chemical and Materials Engineering

Testing Materials and Methods

The test material was H13 steel, Its chemical composition was shown in Table 1
Table 1 Chemical composition of the test material(wt%)
C Mn Si Cr Mo V P S
0.32-0.45 0.30-0.40 0.75-1.20 4.50-5.20 1.05-1.50 0.48-0.61 ≤0.01 ≤0.01
The material was shot peening treatment after quenched and line cut into dimensions of 20mm ×
20 mm × 10mm samples.High-energy shot peening treatment test on the CMD-YHP direct pressure
blasting machine. Pills were 0.8mm diameter steel balls, air pressure is 0.6 Mpa, time was 5min.
After the shot peening treatment, Grinding the sample use No. 400 to No. 1000 sieve water sandpaper
and diamond polishing paste, Polishing to just remove blasting crater.Ion-nitriding test was done in
the industrial glowing plasma nitriding furnace type LDMC150 .The used permeation medium is a
kind of thermal decomposition of ammonia plus urea. 520 ℃Nitriding temperature,1.05kPa pressure,
3 hour was used in the test.
Nitriding layer microstructure was observed with optical microscope. Nitriding layer hardness was
detected with MH-3 type hardness device. Phase analysis of the sample surface was done with
D/max-2550 X-ray diffraction. Potentiodynamic polarization curve of the shot peening and no shot
peening surface was determined In 3.5%NaCl solution under room temperature by CHl660A type
electrochemical test, using saturated calomel electrode as reference electrode, and using Pt as
auxiliary electrode.

Testing Results and Analysis

Microstructure. Figure l is the microstructure of high-energy shot peening and no shot peening
Sample after 520 ℃×1h ion nitriding. Comparing Figure 1a and Figure lb，the nitriding layer
thickness is significantly different, nitriding layer thickness of the no shot peening samples is
0.11mm, but its of the shot peening samples is 0.16mm, it Show that high-energy shot peening
treatment can greatly speed up the process of nitriding. Figure l show that the compound layer of
the two pictures are also difference, the compound layer thickness of shot peening sample is thicker
than that of the not.

(a)original sample b) Powerful Shot peening sample

Fig.1 Micmstmcture of H13 steel treated by plasma nitriding at 520℃ for 4 h
This is due to shot peening to increase the specific surface area of the sample and increase the
atomic activity. Residual compressive stress are produced on the surface of workpiece after shot
peening, lattice occur serious distortion, dislocation density increase obviously, these phenomena
along grain boundaries are particularly prominent. The diffusion of nitrogen process are promoted
becuse the presence of defects on the surface. In addition, energy requirement of iron atoms
 Advanced Materials Research Vols. 393-395 69

sputtering is lower after shot peening in ion nitriding process, so the iron atom sputtering efficiency
is higher, iron ion content of the plasma is improved, the probability of Iron and nitrogen ions to
form compounds is also increased. The more iron nitrogen compounds deposited on the sample
surface after shot peening, Therefore, compound layer thickness after shot peening is thicker [7].
Surface phase structure. Figure 2 is x-ray diffraction spectrum of the no shot peening and
high-energy shot peening on H13 steel after plasma nitriding at 540 ℃ × 4 h. Qualitative and
quantitative analysis of the results showed that no shot peening ion nitriding sample surface
structure are the volume fraction of 73.7% Fe3N and 17.6% Fe4N and 8.7% Fe24N10, After shot
peening and ion nitriding surface structure are mainly the volume fraction of Fe3N 79.6% and Fe4N
20.4%. These show that the surface phase structure of the sample under the two treatments is
different.

2θ/(°)

(a)original sample (b) Powerful Shot peening sample

Fig.2 X-ray difhction pattems of H13 steel treatedby plasma nitriding at 540℃

Microhardness. Figure 3 is microhardness distribution curve of the nitriding sample through

high-energy shot peening and not. Microhardness of the shot peening sample nitriding layer was
1105 HV0.5, it is higher 100HV0.5 than not shot peening nitriding layer of 998 HV0.5. Shot
peening can induce change in the microstructure of the surface layer of the steel, That is residual
austenite transformed into martensite by inducing, it can refinement martensite Sub-Structure, so it
improve the surface hardness and wear resistance of the steel.
microhardness/HV0.5

high-energy shot

no shot

distance from the surface/mm

Fig.3 Hardness gradient of the samples treated by plasma nitriding
The hardness increasing and nitride precipitation density increasing is consistent. Secondly, the
section hardness gradient curve of the nitriding layer after shot peening is more smooth, this is due
to surface activity increaseing after shot peening, This is more conducive to the nitrogen atoms
70 Biotechnology, Chemical and Materials Engineering

diffuse into the matrix, nitrogen concentration gradient of the sample surface will be more gentle. The
nitriding layer less brittle phase is less, their combine strength with the matrix is strong and not easy
to peel off, of course, its wear resistance is better.

Corrosion resistance. Figure 4 is potentiodynamic polarization curve of the nitriding sample through
high-energy shot peening and not in 3.5%NaCl solution. The figure shows that polarization behavior
of H13 steel after shot peening in ion nitriding have significant improvement. Shot peening treatment
make the corrosion potential reduced slightly, anode current density and cathode current density all
are obviously reduced. In addition, the passivation region of shot peening sample was significantly
greater than not shot peening sample, and its breakdown potential is substantially improved. But once
the passivation film was breakdown, its corrosion rate will increase quickly.

Many of the higher energy defect will be produced on H13 steel surface through high energy shot
peening, such as grain boundaries, twin boundaries, vacancies, steps, etc. They can provide priority
nucleation sites for oxide, thus greatly improve the nucleation density, and the film grain size is small.
Sub grain of the surface layer also Produced greatly refinement after shot peening, recovery and
recrystallization occurred In the subsequent oxidation process, grain and sub grain have been refined,
those in favor of crystal nucleus to form a protective outer oxide film. Furthermore, for the high Cr
content in H13 steel, shot peening can also promote Cr outward diffusion, inhibit Fe oxide growth,
Promote Cr oxide formation[8].
overpotential U/V

high-energy shot no shot

logarithm of current density lgJ(A.cm-2)

Fig.4 Polarization curves of the samples in 3.5% NaCl solution treated by plasma nitriding

Conclusion
(1) high-energy shot peening can improve the H13 steel plasma nitriding speed , increase the
thickness of diffusion layer.
(2) Hardness of the shot peening after ion nitriding sample is improved, the section hardness
gradient curve is more smooth, their surface layer microstructure and phase composition is
different.
(3) Potentiodynamic polarization characteristics of H13 steel ion nitriding sample after shot
peening treatment in 3.5%NaCl solution improved obviously, it forme apparent corrosion passive
film, so significantly improved its corrosion resistance.
 Advanced Materials Research Vols. 393-395 71

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