EFFECT OF FRICTION ON THE MICROMECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF AISI 316L AUSTENITIC STEEL

Abstract

In this paper, we investigate the possibility of using the friction method for modifying the microstructure and mechanical properties in the near-surface regions of AISI 316L austenitic steel specimens for the purpose of its practical application. It is shown that a region of severe plastic deformation arises near the friction surface, which transforms the initial fine-grained polycrystalline steel structure into a homogenized zone consisting of a deformed structure with plastic slip bands and weakly pronounced grain boundaries. The change in the microscopic structure results in an increase in this zone of values of micromechanical characteristics, such as microhardness (H), Young's modulus (E), plasticity index (H/E) and resistance index (H3/E2). The obtained results are of interest for the potential use of AISI 316L steel in medicine.