Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Surface Defect Removal by Slide Burnishing

This study determines the influence of technological parameters of slide burnishing on the size of surface defects (scratches). The experiment was performed on ring-shaped samples of C45 steel. The samples had scratches made on their surface with a nominal depth from 10 μm to 70 μm. Slide burnishing was carried out using a variable force and feed. It was observed that regardless of the applied force and feed, scratches with a nominal depth of 10 μm and 20 μm were completely removed, and a “crushing” effect occurred. As for other surface defects, they were 2 to 27 times smaller compared to their values before burnishing. The surface roughness parameters Ra, Rt, Rpk, Rk, and Rvk decreased. Their values were 42% to 91% lower than those observed after grinding. The thickness of the strengthened layer ranged from 10 μm to 15 μm, and the degree of strengthening was from 20% to 38% at a depth of 1 μm. Compressive residual stresses occurred in the surface layer. Taking into account the surface layer properties and the effectiveness of surface defect removal, it should be noted that the most beneficial effects were obtained at F = 150 N and f = 0.03 mm/rev.