Effect of Repeated Processing Passes during Ultrasonic Rolling on Fatigue Performance and Corrosion Resistance of Ti6Al4V Alloy

Abstract

Ultrasonic surface rolling processing (USRP) is a new method to improve the fatigue performance of titanium alloy, and repeated processing pass is an important factor that affects its strengthening effect. The effect of USRP passes on the surface microstructure, residual stress, fatigue performance and corrosion resistance of titanium alloy is researched via SEM, X-ray diffractometer, rotating–bending fatigue test and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The results show that Ti6Al4V alloy undergoes cumulative plastic deformation during USRP process, the surface grains are refined and a residual compressive stress field with a thickness of 500 μm is introduced, which together improve the fatigue performance of the Ti6Al4V alloy. Increasing the repeated processing passes will deepen the grain refinement layer and increase the surface hardening effect, but the fatigue life of the Ti6Al4V alloy does not increase with an increase in processing passes. A five-passes processing under a static force of 550 N can result in a greater gain for the fatigue resistance of the Ti6Al4V alloy; the fatigue life of a five-passes-processed sample under 600 MPa is 8 times higher than that of an untreated sample, and its fatigue crack source initiates at the subsurface away from the surface of 180 μm. Furthermore, Ti6Al4V alloys treated by USRP show a better corrosion resistance in both neutral and acidic solutions, especially for the five-passes-processed sample.