Abstract
The present research study focuses on the
investigation of the influence of sand blasting on formed mild steel
samples. The investigation involved the examinations on the parent
material and a sand blasted material. The results were compared to
the mechanically formed materials (sand and non-sand blasted) as
well as a laser formed material (sand and non-sand blasted). Each
material was characterized for the grain sizes and hardness. The
percentage change in the grain sizes was quantified and correlation to
the microhardness values was established. The Ultimate Tensile
Strength (UTS) of the materials was also quantified using the
obtained hardness values. The investigations revealed that the sand
blasting causes an increase in the Vickers microhardness values of all
the materials which also led to an increase in the UTS. After the
forming operation, the microstructure revealed elongated grains as
compared to almost equiaxed obtained from the parent non-sand
blasted materials.