Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of electro discharge machining (EDM) on the AISI316L SS white layer microstructure and corrosion resistance

  • ORIGINAL ARTICLE
  • Published:
The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The localised corrosion resistance of austenitic stainless steels is strongly influenced by the quality of finished surface. EDM machining induces substantial changes by the high thermal gradients generated by electric sparks. Experimental techniques such as roughness measurement, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive microanalysis (EDX) and X-ray diffraction technique, reveal micro-geometrical, microstructural, chemical and mechanical changes. These changes lead to white and heat-affected layers with a depth less than 100 μm. The white layer is a melted material characterised by dendritic structure and constituted by austenite, chromium carbide and ε-carbide. The heat-affected layer is characterised by very large grain size comparatively to the bulk material. Electrochemical test coupled with metallographic examinations using SEM reveals a weakening of the resistance to pitting and intergranular corrosion comparatively to diamond polished surface. This weakening is correlated to differences in structure and chemical composition of white layer. Susceptibility to stress corrosion cracking has been attributed to the field of tensile residual stresses resulting from thermal effects. The removal of the white layer material by polishing or wire brushing restores the corrosion resistance of the AISI316L SS.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Ho KH, Newman ST (2003) State of the art of electrical discharge machining (EDM). Int J Mach Tools Manuf 43:1287–1300

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Kumar S, Singh R, Singh TP, Sethi BL (2009) Surface modification by electrical discharge machining: a review. J Mater Process Technol 209:3675–3687

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Uhlmann E, Piltz S, Doll U (2005) Machining of micro/miniature dies and moulds by electrical discharge machining—recent development. J Mater Process Technol 167:488–493

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Shuvra D, Mathias K, Klocke F (2003) EDM simulation: finite element-based calculation of deformation, microstructure and residual stresses. J Mater Process Technol 142:434–451

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Ghanem F, Braham C, Sidhom H (2003) Influence of steel type on electrical discharge machined surface integrity. J Mater Process Technol 142:163–173

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Schuze HP, Herms R, Juhr H, Schaetzing W, Wollenberg G (2004) Comparison of measured and simulated crater morphology for EDM. J Mater Process Technol 149:316–322

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Yadav V, Jain V, Prakash Dixit M (2002) Thermal stresses due to electrical discharge machining. Int J Mach Tools Manuf 42:877–888

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Ghanem F, Braham C, Fitzpatrick ME, Sidhom H (2002) Effect of near-surface residual stress and microstructure modification from machining on the fatigue endurance of tool steel. J Mater Eng Perform 11(6):631–639

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Ghanem F, Sidhom H, Braham C (2004) Surface integrity and fatigue resistance of spark-machined parts (in French). Ann Chimie Sci Materiaux 29(2):79–91

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Cusanelli G, Hessler-Wyser A, Bobard F, Demellayer R, Perez R, Flukiger R (2004) Microstructure at submicron scale of the white layer produced by EDM technique. J Mater Process Technol 149:289–295

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Hiong LS, Xiaoping L (2003) Study of the surface integrity of the machined workpiece in the EDM of tungsten carbide. J Mater Process Technol 139:315–321

    Google Scholar 

  12. Hasçalýk A, Caldas U (2004) Experimental study of wire electrical discharge machining of AISI D5 tool steel. J Mater Process Technol 148:362–367

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Grosch J (1989) Einfluß der funkenerosiven Bearbeitung auf das Randgefüge verschiedener Stähle. HTM Härterei-Techn. Mitt 44:290–295

  14. Tadao T, Takeo T (1984) Effect of the electro-discharge machined surface on the mechanical properties—the fatigue strength of carbon steel. Bull Japan Soc of Precis Eng 18(4):341–342

    Google Scholar 

  15. Tadao T, Takeo T (1987) Effect of the electro-discharge machined surface on the mechanical properties. Bull Japan Soc Precis Eng 21(1):70–71

    Google Scholar 

  16. Kisuke I, Katsuji T (1988) Fatigue strength of shot penned specimen formed by laser cutting and wire EDM. Bull Japan Soc of Precis Engg 22(3):195–199

    Google Scholar 

  17. Casas B, Torres Y, Lianes L (2006) Fracture and fatigue behaviour of electrical-machined cemented carbides. Int J Refract Metals Hard Mater 24:162–167

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Hocheng H, Lei WT, Hsu HS (2003) Preliminary study of material removal in electrical discharge machining of SiC/A. J Mater Process Technol 63:813–818

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Obara H, Satou H, Hatano M (2004) Fundamental study on corrosion of cemented carbide during wire EDM. J Mater Process Technol 149:370–375

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Yan BH, Lin YC, Huang FY (2002) Surface modification of Al–Zn–Mg alloy by combined electrical discharge machining with ball burnish machining. Int J Mach Tools Manuf 42:925–934

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Uno Y, Okada A, Uemura K, Raharjo P, Furukawa T, Karato K (2005) High-efficiency finishing process for metal mould by large-area electron beam irradiation. Precis Eng 29:449–455

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Tsai HC, Yan BH, Huang FY (2003) EDM performance of Cr/Cu-based composite electrodes. Int J Mach Tools Manuf 43:245–252

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Ntasi A, Mueller WD, Eliades G, Zinelis S (2010) The effect of electro discharge machining (EDM) on the corrosion resistance of dental alloys. Dent Mater 26:e237–e245

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Lee S, Lai J, Huang C (2005) Stainless steel bipolar plates. J Power Sources 145:362–368

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Yi SM, Jin SH, Lee JD, Chu CN (2005) Fabrication of a high-aspect-ratio stainless steel shadow mask and its application to pentacene thin-film transistors. J Micromech Microeng 15:263–269

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Ravi N, Huang H (2002) Fabrication of symmetrical section micro features using the electro-discharge machining block electrode method. J Micromech Microeng 12:905–910

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Peirs J, Reynaerts D, Verplaet F (2003) Development of an axial microturbine for a portable gas turbine generator. J Micromech Microeng 13:S190–S195

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Kathuria YP (2006) The potential of biocompatible metallic stents and preventing restenosis. Mater Sci Eng A 417:40–48

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Sidhom H, Amadou T, Sahlaoui H, Braham C (2007) Quantitative evaluation of aged AISI 316L stainless steel sensitization to intergranular corrosion: comparison between microstructural electrochemical and analytical methods. Metall Mater Trans A Phys Metall Mater Sci 38(6):1269–1280

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Ben Rhouma A, Braham C, Fitzpatrick ME, Lédion J, Sidhom H (2011) Effects of surface preparation on pitting resistance, residual stress, and stress corrosion cracking in austenitic stainless steels. J Mater Eng Perform 10(5):507–514

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Braham C, Ben Rhouma A, Lédion J, Sidhom H (2005) Effect of machining conditions on residual stress corrosion cracking of 316L SS. Mater Sci Forum (490–491):305–310

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Mécanique Matériaux et Procédés, ESSTT–Université de Tunis, 5 Av. Taha Hussein, 1008, Montfleury, Tunisia

    Habib Sidhom, Farhat Ghanem & Tidiane Amadou

  2. Instituto de Investigaciones en Materiales, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito Exterior S/N, Cd. Universitaria, A.P. 70-360, Coyoacán, 04360, México, D. F., Mexico

    Gonzalo Gonzalez

  3. PIMM, CNRS UMR 8006, Arts et Métiers ParisTech, 151, Bd de l’Hôpital, 75013, Paris, France

    Chedly Braham

Authors
  1. Habib Sidhom
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Farhat Ghanem
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Tidiane Amadou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Gonzalo Gonzalez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Chedly Braham
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chedly Braham.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sidhom, H., Ghanem, F., Amadou, T. et al. Effect of electro discharge machining (EDM) on the AISI316L SS white layer microstructure and corrosion resistance. Int J Adv Manuf Technol 65, 141–153 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-012-4156-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-012-4156-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation