Influence of Slide Burnishing Parameters on the Surface Layer Properties of Stainless Steel and Mean Positron Lifetime

This paper presents the results of an experimental study on the impact of slide burnishing on surface roughness parameters (Sa, Sz, Sp, Sv, Ssk, and Sku), topography, surface layer microhardness, residual stress, and mean positron lifetime (τ_mean). In the study, specimens of X6CrNiTi18 stainless steel were subjected to slide burnishing. The experimental variables were feed and slide burnishing force. The slide burnishing process led to changes in the surface structure and residual stress distribution and increased the surface layer microhardness. After slide burnishing, the analyzed roughness parameters decreased compared with their pre-treatment (grinding) values. The slide burnishing of X6CrNiTi18 steel specimens increased their degree of strengthening e from 8.77% to 42.74%, while the hardened layer thickness g_h increased after the treatment from about 10 µm to 100 µm. The maximum compressive residual stress was about 450 MPa, and the maximum depth of compressive residual stresses was g_σ = 1.1 mm. The positron mean lifetime τ_mean slightly yet systematically increased with the increase in burnishing force F, while an increase in feed led to changes of a different nature.