Effects of the high temperature plasma immersion ion implantation (PIII) of nitrogen in AISI H13 steel

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Corrosion resistance enhancement of SAE 1020 steel after Chromium implantation by nitrogen ion recoil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Influence of shot peening and hard chromium electroplating on the fatigue strength of 7050-T7451 aluminum alloy

Chromium electrodeposition is a technique for the production of functional coatings on engineering components. These coatings are extensively micro-cracked and present high level of hardness, resistance to corrosion and wear and low coefficient of friction. In this paper the shot peening influence on the fatigue strength of aluminum 7050-T7451 alloy chromium electroplated, was investigated.The shot peening process was carried out to create residual stresses using ceramic and glass shots. A hard chromium electroplated coating of 100 mu m thickness was performed on the base material and the shot peened base material surfaces. S-N curves were obtained in axial and bending fatigue tests and compared with the 7050-T7451 aluminum alloy. In order to study the influence of residual stresses on fatigue life, the behavior of compressive residual stress field was measured by an X-ray tensometry.An increase in the axial fatigue strength of 25% and 50% of ceramic and glass shots, respectively, was observed. The lower performance in fatigue life for ceramic-shot peening may be attributed to higher surface damage, as a consequence of the overpeening intensity performed. However, in bending fatigue the behavior was practically equivalent for both processes. Fracture surface analysis by scanning electron microscopy was used to observe crack origin sites from shot peened and chromium electroplated samples. (C) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Residual stress influence on fatigue lifetimes of electroplated AISI 4340 high strength steel

Residual stresses play an important role in the fatigue lives of structural engineering components. In the case of near surface tensile residual stresses, the initiation and propagation phases of fatigue process are accelerated; on the other hand, compressive residual stresses close to the surface may increase fatigue life. In both decorative and functional applications, chromium electroplating results in excellent wear and corrosion resistance. However, it is well known that it reduces the fatigue strength of a component. This is due to high tensile internal stresses and microcrack density. Efforts to improve hard chromium properties have increased in recent years. In this study, the effect of a nickel layer sulphamate process, as simple layer and interlayer, on fatigue strength of hard chromium electroplated AISI 4340 steel hardness - HRc 53, was analysed. The analysis was performed by rotating bending fatigue tests on AISI 4340 steel specimens with the following experimental groups: base material, hard chromium electroplated, sulphamate nickel electroplated, sulphamate nickel interlayer on hard chromium electroplated and electroless nickel interlayer on hard chromium electroplated. Results showed a decrease in fatigue strength in coated specimens and that both nickel plating interlayers were responsible for the increase in fatigue life of AISI 4340 chromium electroplated steel. The shot peening pre-treatment was efficient in reducing fatigue loss in the alternatives studied.

Wear resistance of nickel-titanium endodontic files after surface treatment

Objectives The purpose of this work was to submit the Nitinol files to plasma immersion ion implantation (PIII) and evaluate the effects of the surface treatment. Materials and Methods Wear resistance was determined in vitro by using an equipment for the application of horizontal movements on previously prepared notched plates made of resin. Vickers microhardness was measured in plates and files, before and after surface treatment and the surface chemical composition of the instruments was determined by X-rays photoelectron spectroscopy. Results The hardness values found for the treated Nitinol files were significantly lower than the hardness values measured before the implantation process. The comparison of commercially available instruments shows that the wear resistance of the stainless steel file is higher than the resistance of the Nitinol. Conclusions The results found led to the conclusion that the surface treatment significantly increased the Nitinol files wear resistance.