Selected Properties of the Surface Layer of C45 Steel Samples after Slide Burnishing

This paper presents the experimental results of a study investigating the impact of the machining fluid type, the variable factor, used in slide burnishing on 2D and 3D surface roughness; surface topography; Abbott–Firestone curve shape; microhardness; and SFE (surface free energy). In the experiment, pre-ground, ringed samples of C45 steel were used. The results showed an over eight-fold decrease in the value of the Ra (arithmetical mean deviation) parameter and over a five-fold decrease in the Rt (total height of profile) parameter in relation to their values after grinding. The parameters Rpk (reduced peak height), Rk (core roughness depth), and Rvk (reduced valley depth) were also reduced. The Abbott–Firestone curve after slide burnishing changed its angle of inclination (it was more flattened), and the material ratio Smr increased. The reduction in the Rpk and Rk parameters and increased material ratio will most likely contribute to restoring the functionality of these surfaces (increased resistance to abrasive wear). After slide burnishing, the maximum 25% increase in microhardness was obtained compared to the value after grinding, while the layer thickness was 20 μm. The surface energy of elements subjected to slide burnishing using various machining fluids slightly increased, or its value was close to that of the ground surface. The most favourable properties of the surface layer in terms of mating between two elements were obtained for a part that was slide-burnished with a mixture of oil + polymethyl methacrylate (PMM) + molybdenum disulphide (MoS(2)).