Study on microstructure and fretting wear properties of zirconium alloy treated by laser shock peening

In this study, the microstructure and fretting wear properties of zirconium (Zr) alloy treated by laser shock peening (LSP) were studied. The Zr alloy treated by LSP presents grain refinement and dislocation entanglement, resulting in the increase of hardness. The friction coefficient, wear area, wear loss, and wear depth of Zr alloy treated by LSP are significantly reduced, indicating that LSP treatment can enhance the wear resistance. The primary wear mechanism of substrate is adhesive wear, and Zr alloy treated by LSP exhibits abrasive wear and oxidation wear.