Machinability of sintered 316L stainless steel

Abstract

Stainless steels containing malleable oxides form the latest generation with improved machinability. Three variations of steelmaking applied to an AISI 316L stainless steel are studied here. Anorthitic inclusions lead to the best results: for the same cutting conditions, crater and flank wear are much lower; the improvement of optimum speed reaches about 50% when drilling in severe conditions; screw-machining productivity is 30% higher. The low melting point of anorthitic oxides makes them more malleable at the cutting temperatures. The quick-stop test results show that they are finely elongated in the shear zone. Scanning electron microscope examinations display an oxide layer in the tool crater which plays a lubricant role.