The Impact of Final Turning on the SCC Susceptibility of Austenitic Stainless Steel AISI 304 and AISI 321

Abstract:

Final turning, which is a finishing process for obtaining components with specific precise parameters, affects the integrity of the surface and its properties, whether hardness or surface residual stresses. The synergistic effect of these factors affects the susceptibility of the material, to stress corrosion cracking. In this work, 2 types of austenitic stainless steel, namely AISI 304 and AISI 321, were turned. Tool with positive cutting geometry was used for turning. The cutting parameters that varied were the cutting speed (100 and 250 m.min⁻¹) and the tool feed (0.12, 0.2 and 0.3 mm·rev⁻¹). The depth of cut was the same for all turnings (0.8 mm). Subsequently, the prepared samples were exposed in MgCl₂ solution based on the ASTM G36 for 96 hours. After this time, the samples were analysed using SEM, where the density of surface cracks was monitored. When comparing the crack density, an increase in density was visible for AISI 304 compared to AISI 321. It was shown that with increasing cutting speed, the density of cracks increased significantly, as well as with increasing tool feed. On the cross-sections the depth and length of the cracks were analysed. Crack depth and length increased with increasing feed too.

• Periodical: Solid State Phenomena (Volume 386)
• Pages: 77-83
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/p-3CElNJ
• Online since: March 2026
• Authors: Marek Kudláč*, Mária Dománková, Katarína Bártová, Matúš Gavalec, Dávid Slnek
• Keywords: Austenitic Stainless Steel, Corrosion, Final Turning, Stress Corrosion Cracking, Surface

References

[1] K. Kocman, Technological processes of machining, first ed., CERM, Brno, 2011.

[2] J. Beňo, I. Maňková, Technological and material factors of machining, first ed., Vienala, Košice, 2004.

[3] I. Korkut, M. Kasap, I. Çiftçi, U. Şeker, Determination of optimum cutting parameters during machining of AISI 304 austenitic stainless steel, J. Mat. & Des., 25 (2004) 303-305.

DOI: 10.1016/j.matdes.2003.10.011

[4] H. Wu, Ch. Li, K. Fang, W. Zhang, F. Xue, G. Zhang, X. Wang, Effect of residual stress on the stress corrosion cracking in boiling magnesium chloride solution of austenitic stainless steel, Mat. and Cor., 25 (2018) 1572-1583.

DOI: 10.1002/maco.201810201

[5] W. Zhang, Y. Li, H. Dong, Ch. Yang, X. Jiang, D. Lou, H. Xue, K. Fang, X. Wang, Correlation between machining-induced surface alterations and stress corrosion cracking susceptibility of austenitic stainless steels, J. Mat. Res. and Tech., 26 (2023) 5076-5094.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jmrt.2023.08.239

[6] AB SANDVIK COROMANT, Modern Metal Cutting – A Practical Handbook, first ed., Scientia, Praha, 1997.

[7] D.Y. Jang, T.R. Watkins, K.J. Kozaczek, C.R. Hubbard, O.B. Cavin, Surface residual stresses in machined austenitic stainless steel, Wear, 194 (1996) 168-173.

DOI: 10.1016/0043-1648(95)06838-4

[8] M. Čička, R. Turisová, F. Kóča, H. Pačaiová, Machining of Austenitic Stainless Steels - the Influence of Various Factors on the Machining Result, Ac. Mech. Slov., 27 (2023) 18-26.

DOI: 10.21496/ams.2023.022