Effect of nanostructuring frictional treatment on the properties of high-carbon pearlitic steel. Part I: microstructure and surface properties

In this first part of the work, the microstructure, surface roughness, residual stresses, microhardness and micromechanical properties of the high-carbon (1.03 wt% C) steel with a fine-lamellar pearlitic structure have been studied before and after frictional treatment with a sliding indenter. It has been found that the frictional treatment is a nanostructuring treatment, which forms a high-quality surface with low roughness (Ra = 0.065 µm), leads to a significant surface hardening (microhardness increases from 450 to 1040 HV0.05) and forms favorable residual stresses in the hardened surface layer. The instrumented microindentation data also testify to substantial hardening of the steel after the frictional treatment and increased resistance of the steel to intensive mechanical contact. Tensile properties and the experimental verification of the ability of the high-carbon steel with different structural states of its surface to withstand contact loads will be presented in the second part of this work.