Gradient Structured Copper by Rotationally Accelerated Shot Peening

A new technology-rotationally accelerated shot peening (RASP), was developed to prepare gradient structured materials. By using centrifugal acceleration principle and large steel balls, the RASP technology can produce much higher impact energy compared to conventional shot peening. As a proof-of-concept demonstration, the RASP was utilized to refine the surface layer in pure copper (Cu) with an average grain size of ~85 nm. The grain size increases largely from surface downwards the bulk, forming an 800 μm thick gradient-structured surface layer and consequently a micro-hardness gradient. The difference between the RASP technology and other established techniques in preparing gradient structured materials is discussed. The RASP technology exhibits a promoting future for large-scale manufacturing of gradient materials.