Effect of Ultrasonic Shot Peening and Laser Shock Peening on the Microstructure and Microhardness of IN738LC Alloys

IN738LC is a conventional-cast Ni-based superalloy intended for power generation and aerospace applications. Typically, ultrasonic shot peening (USP) and laser shock peening (LSP) are utilized to enhance cracking, creep, and fatigue resistance. In this study, the optimal process parameters for USP and LSP were established by observing the microstructure and measuring the microhardness of the near-surface region of IN738LC alloys. The LSP impact region (modification depth) was approximately 2500 μm, which was much higher than the USP impact depth of 600 μm. The observation of the microstructural modification and resulting strengthening mechanism revealed that the build-up of dislocations upon peening with plastic deformation was crucial for alloy strengthening in both methods. In contrast, significant strengthening via γ′ shearing was observed only in the USP-treated alloys.