Deep rolling effects on surface integrity and wear resistance for a continuous cooling bainitic steel

Abstract This paper investigates deep rolling effects as a surface modification technique to improve the wear resistance of a Continuous Cooling bainitic steel (CCBS). Although CCBS are recognized as alternatives for energy efficient manufacturing, enabling shorter thermomechanical routes while providing excellent core mechanical properties wear resistance must still be improved to attend specific applications on mechanical construction. This article investigates deep rolling as a possibility to improve the wear response of CCBS while preserving the optimized core properties obtained through continuous cooling. Deep rolling was applied at two working pressures (150 and 250 bar) to previously thermomechanical treated CCBS steel workpieces. The tribological response was evaluated under dry sliding conditions using an alumina ball as counter face. Deep rolling promoted surface hardening, significant roughness reduction, and the development of compressive residual stress profiles. These surface integrity modifications delayed friction stabilization during running-in and resulted in enhanced wear resistance by altering the dominant wear mechanisms acting at the contact.