Materials Science Forum Online: 2011-03-28

ISSN: 1662-9752, Vol. 681, pp 273-277

doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.681.273
© 2011 Trans Tech Publications Ltd, Switzerland

Experimental analysis of shot peening on carburized or carbonitrided

parts
Renaud Pierre1,2,a, Bristiel Philippe2,b, Barrallier Laurent1,c, Desvignes Marc1,d,
Kubler Regis1,e
1
Arts et Metiers ParisTech, MecaSurf Laboratory, 2 cours des Arts et Métiers, 13617 Aix en
Provence, France
2
PSA Peugeot Citroën, 18 rue des Fauvelles, 92256 La Garenne Colombes, France
a
pierre.renaud@ensam.eu, bphilippe.bristiel@mpsa.com, claurent.barrallier@ensam.eu,
d
marc.desvignes@ensam.eu, dregis.kubler@ensam.eu
Keywords: Shot peening, Residual stress, Carburizing, Carbonitriding

Abstract. This experimental study focuses on the influence of shot peening on parts initially
treated by carburizing or carbonitriding. Experimental investigations have been carried out:
optical observations of the microstructures, in-depth hardness measurement, X-ray diffraction
analysis of residual stresses. A comparison is made between the carburizing anad the
carbonitriding treatments.

Introduction

The carburizing process consists in adding carbon to the surface layer of the part whose content can
reach 0.8 to 1% [1]. It is carried out at a high temperature, in austenitic phase, thus increasing
carbon solubility and easing inward diffusion of the carbon to the core of the part. The next step is
to rapidly cool down this carbon-enriched microstructure in order to form a hard martensitic
structure. Mechanical properties of carburized parts depend mainly on the carbon distribution from
the surface towards the core. Volume incompatibilities due to interstitial insertion of carbon in the
ferritic matrix as well as differential volume expansions due to temperature changes and phase
transformations during quenching generate residual stresses within the part [2].
Carbonitriding is distinguished from carburizing, since it is based on nitrogen enrichment, in
addition to carbon, to ease the diffusion of carbon.
The shot peening process is a mechanical treatment which consists in subjecting the surface of a
part to a controlled shooting of spherical particles. Impacts cause local plastic straining resulting in
the generation of residual stresses [3]. Such stresses depend on the energy of the shot peening
process which is influenced by the material density, the dimensions and the velocity of the shot, the
angle of impact and the hardness of the shot.
Each surface treatment implies more or less advantages in terms of cost, duration of treatment,
maximum level of produced residual stresses, stability in service, depth affected by treatment,
surface hardness. The combination of thermochemical treatments and the shot peening process aims
at drawing from the respective advantages of each treatment. In this study, in-depth hardness tests
and stress analysis using X-ray diffraction are carried out in association with microstructural
observations after each surface treatment in order to characterize their effects on the life span of
mechanical parts.

Material and surface treatments

Material. In this study, we are working on 29MnCr5 steel. This type of steel is generally used for
the gear box at PSA Peugeot Citroen Company. Table 1 presents its chemical composition
according to PSA standards [9] :

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274 Residual Stresses VIII

Table 1. Chemical composition of 29MnCr5 steel in % weight

Al Cr Cu Mn Si Ti C P S Fe
0.015 1.15 ≤0.40 1.10 0.10 ≤0.010 0.26 0.025 0.025 Bal.
0.040 1.30 1.40 0.40 0.32 0.040

For this study, a parallelepiped specimen geometry is used which is large enough compared to the
dimensions affected by the studied surface treatments. The thickness corresponds to the standard
width of gear tooth. The dimensions are 100×15×4 mm3 (Fig. 1). Two holes are located at the ends
of the specimen for fixation purposes during the shot peening process.

Figure 1. Specimen geometry (dimensions in mm)

Thermochemical treatments. The initial material has a bainitic microstructure. Before shot
peening, some specimens are carburized and others carbonitrided on all the surfaces. Treatment
conditions are fully detailed in Table 2.
Table 2. Conditions for Carburizing and Carbonitriding
Carburizing Carbonitriding

Austenitization time + 42 min 180 min

diffusion
Austenitization temperature 940 °C 860 °C
Nitriding atmosphere Ammoniac
Carburizing atmosphere Acetylene Propane and methanol
Quenching media Nitrogen Oil
Quenching temperature 120 °C 160 °C
Quenching time 10 min 10 min

Shot peening treatment. All the faces of the specimens were carburized or carbonitrided. Only one
face was treated by shot peening. A coverage rate of 100% was obtained for a shot peening duration
of approximately 12 s, for an Almen Intensity of F51A. The shot used was a spherical steel ball
with a diameter of 0.6 mm and a hardness of 700 HV. Different investigations, before and after shot
peening, are carried out on the same specimen and are presented in section 3.

Experimental investigations and results

Micrographical analysis. Following a meticulous preparation procedure on the specimen: cutting,

coating, grinding, polishing and chemical etching (Nital 3%), the resulting microstructures are
observed with an optical microscope (Figure 2).
 Materials Science Forum Vol. 681 275

Figure 2. Carburized material (a). Carbonitrided material (b)

For both thermochemical treatments, the overwhelming presence of a martensitic microstructure is

observed. However, the transition between the enriched layers and the core of the part is not easy to
distinguish with optical microscope observations. Likewise, the high surface hardness of parts
treated by carburizing (or carbonitriding) does not make it possible to distinctly observe the effects
of shot peening on the surface quality. It is possible to distinguish residual austenitic (in white
color). This soft phase can significantly decrease surface hardness and modify the distribution of
residual stresses. It can be tolerable, or even desirable, depending on the type of service loads
(bending). A volume fraction of 20 to 25% is generally beneficial for fatigue resistance [4].
In the case of carbonitriding treatments, the presence of CO, CO2 and H2O causes a surface
oxidation of metal which could introduce micro cracks. The shot peening process could close this
initiated crack [4]. The carburizing process being carried out in low pressure conditions, this
oxidation phenomenon does not take place.

Hardness profile. Carbon (and nitrogen, in case of carbonitriding) content varies gradually from
the surface to the core of the part. Hardness evolves the same way. The in-depth hardness profile is
a significant element for treatment characterization. In our case, hardness is expressed in Vickers.
More precisely, for the presented material, the PSA standard [8] suggests using hardness HV0.3.
Figure 3 compares the hardness profile before and after shot peening for carburizing and
carbonitriding.

The in-depth hardness profile makes it possible to observe:

- a weaker surface hardness due to the presence of residual austenite
- the conventional thickness of the enriched surface (according to the applicable PSA
standard [8], it corresponds to the distance from where the surface hardness is of 650
HV)
Thus, the contribution of shot peening to the change in the hardness profiles of parts can be defined.
276 Residual Stresses VIII

Figure 3. In-depth hardness of carburized and shot peened material (a). Carbonitrided and shot
peened material (b)
According to the standards [8], the effective thickness of the treated layer is approximately 0.35 mm
for carburizing and carbonitriding. A weaker hardness before shot peening can be observed on the
extreme surface due to the presence of residual austenite. Shot peening effects seem to be more
pronounced in the case of a carbonitrided material. Actually, nitrogen contributes to decrease the
Ms temperature of transformation of austenite to martensite [5]. Therefore, residual austenite is
more stable after carbonitriding.
As a conclusion, the shot peening process increases surface hardness levels both for carburized and
carbonitrided material. This can be due to the transformation of residual austenite into martensite
which is currently under investigations. In the present case, plastic strain [6] induces martensitic
phase transformation.

Residual stresses analysis. Figure 4 shows residual stress profiles obtained by X-ray diffraction
analysis for carburized and carbonitrided material before and after shot peening. The surface
treatments are uniform so that the stress state is assumed planar isotropic. Samples have been
grinded using an electropolishing machine at different depths in the middle of the specimen. Strains
measurements are performed on the peak {211} of the ferritic matrix with a Cr anode. Stresses are
determined with the classical sin2psi method [7] with the X-ray elastic constants such as: S1= -
1.28×10-6MPa-1, 1/2S2=5.92×10-6MPa-1[10];

200 200

0 0
0 200 400 600 800 1000 0 200 400 600 800 1000
-200 -200
Stress (MPa)

Stress (MPa)

-400 -400

-600 -600
carburizing
Carbonitriding
-800 carburizing+shot peening -800
Carbonitriding+Shot peening
-1000 -1000

-1200 -1200
Depth (µm) (a) Depth (µm) (b)

Figure 4. Residual stresses of carburized and shot peened material (a). Carbonitrided and shot
peened material (b)

It is observed for both thermochemical treatments, that the shot peening process makes it possible to
reach a high level of compressive residual stress in the outer layer. After shot peening, the stress
maximum is shifted closer to the surface (60 micrometers) while still keeping a high value of
compressive stress deeper in the material (> 300 micrometers). After carbonitriding the gain of
compressive stress (∆σ= -800 MPa) is greater than after carburizing (∆σ= -600 MPa).
 Materials Science Forum Vol. 681 277

Further investigations with local austenite volume fraction determination will bring more insight
about those mechanisms.
Residual compressive stresses produced during shot peening are superimposed on those generated
by the thermochemical treatments which increase clearly close to the surface.

Conclusion and prospects

As demonstrated by experimental studies, carburizing or carbonitriding are complementary to shot

peening:
- shot peening increases hardness at the surface of already thermochemically treated parts
- shot peening introduces a higher level of compressive stress
- with shot peening occuring after thermochemical treatments, the peak of compressive stress
is shifted closer to the surface by still keeping compressive stress due to the thermochemical
treatments.
- the stability of residual austenite seems to play an important role on the stress distribution
after shot peening
The experimental residual stress data obtained in this study will be useful in a future work where a
finite element analysis of shot peening following carburizing or carbonitriding is performed

References

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