Influence of surface morphology on fatigue behavior of metastable austenitic stainless steel AISI 347 at ambient temperature and 300°C

Abstract The effect of surface modification by cryogenic turning on fatigue behavior of metastable austenitic stainless steel AISI 347 was investigated in stress-controlled fatigue tests at ambient temperature (AT) and 300 °C in air. Five different surface morphologies were manufactured by the variation of turning parameters – with and without cryogenic CO 2 snow cooling and feed velocity as well as by the application of polishing for reference surfaces with a very small surface roughness. For a comprehensive characterization of the surface and near surface morphology, X-ray diffraction investigations were performed. Three phases (γ-austenite, α-martensite and e-martensite) were detected in the near-surface microstructure after cryogenic turning while after turning without cryogenic cooling the only microstructural constituent was γ-austenite. Moreover, residual stress state, micro hardness and surface roughness play an important role in surface morphology. The experimental data on the cyclic deformation behavior and stress-strain response of all surface morphologies are reported. Reference specimens with purely austenitic surface microstructure show the highest plastic strain amplitude during cyclic loading at both AT and 300°C. At elevated temperature these specimens achieved the shortest fatigue life. Martensitic surface layers induced by cryogenic turning result in the reduction of plastic strain amplitude during cyclic loading and significantly enhance fatigue life at both tested temperatures.