Shot peening effect in F138 stainless steel surface modification

Abstract

Stainless steel F138 is the most widely used steel as biomaterial. This metal has low toughness, so metallic implants are prone to wear [1]. Residual compressive stress and surface toughness increase can improve materials life fatigue. Shot peening is a mechanical surface treatment in which many small spheres are accelerated and blasted in materials surface, inducing residual compressive stress on materials surface. Surgical implants are submitted to this treatment to generate surface roughness increase for better adhesion too [2]. In this work, shot peening was performed using four different conditions to verify the effect on surface modification. Microscope techniques, x-ray diffraction, residual stress, toughness and roughness measurements were used to validate the tests. In conclusion, shot peening is an effective surface treatment to induce residual stress and increase roughness and toughness. Keywords: F138, Residual Stress, Shot Peening, Stainless Steel.