Impact of Laser Shock Peening Without Ablative Coating Process on the Surface Characteristics and Wear Behavior of High-Speed Steel

Laser shock peening without ablative coating (LSPWAC) process is an emerging surface treatment to improve the wear resistance of the materials. The aim of the current work is to examine the effects of the LSPWAC process on the surface properties and wear behavior of HSS material. The LSPWAC technique utilizes a Nd:YAG pulsed laser with pulse energy ranging from 30 to 75 mJ. Results showed that surface hardness of the laser shock-peened HSS specimen is increased from 876 to 986 HV, and grain refinement was caused by significant plastic deformation at the top surface. Moreover, shock-peened HSS exhibited better wear resistance than the conventional HSS material. During the pin-on-disk test, the wear rate of the shock-peened HSS sample treated with pulse energy of 60 mJ is reduced by up to 50