Effect of Microstructure on Chip Formation during Machining of Super Austenitic Stainless Steel

The AL6XN Super Austenitic Stainless Steel alloy is a commonly used steel in corrosive environments and tough applications. This paper aims to investigate the execution of a machining process on the AL6XN alloy. A wet machining process has been executed to machine the alloy under a combination of various cutting conditions using an up milling approach. Two cutting speeds, two cutting depths and two feeds were used. The outputs obtained and listed in this paper are the microstructure analysis, surface microhardness and the chip morphology. The microstructure of the AL6XN alloy was revealed using Electron Microscope and Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD). Work hardening layer was located in the subsurface of the machined alloy. EBSD data assured that no phase transformation was occurred within the deformed microstructure due to machining. The chip cross-section was revealed to identify the presence of the shear bands and to calculate the alloy serration degree.