Enhancing Tribological Properties of Inconel X-750 Superalloy through Surface Topography Modification by Shot Blasting

The profound usage of Inconel X-750 in structural and high-pressure conditions mandates improved tribological properties. One of the methods to achieve this is through surface topography modifications. In this work, the viability of the shot blasting technique is explored to enhance the wear resistance of Inconel X-750. For this purpose, aluminum oxide particles with 80 mesh size were shot blasted on the superalloy surface at a constant pressure of 0.6 MPa. The 3D surface topography of Inconel X-750 alloy confirms substantial surface deformation and increased surface roughness after shot blasting. Furthermore, the surface characteristics of shot-blasted superalloy were meticulously examined using a string of techniques: optical profilometer, scanning electron microscope, and electron probe microanalysis. The tribological properties of Inconel X-750 before and after shot blasting were examined using a reciprocating tribometer with a ball-on-flat configuration. Results showed that shot blasting the superalloy has tremendously enhanced the wear resistance by similar to 78%, which could be attributed to the reduced sliding contact area, enhanced surface hardness, and the hindrance in the transition of wear mechanism from abrasion tribo-oxidation to adhesion.