On the fatigue behavior of low-temperature gaseous carburized 316L austenitic stainless steel: Experimental analysis and predictive approach

Low-temperature gaseous carburization is a surface modification method for austenitic stainless steels. In order to investigate the effects of low-temperature gaseous carburization on the fatigue behavior of AISI 316L, fully reversed axial fatigue tests were performed at room temperature on specimens with various remaining case depths. The fatigue performance of AISI 316L could be significantly improved; a 15% higher endurance limit is achieved after low-temperature gaseous carburization. After removal of the outer, brittle part of carburized case by electropolishing, the improvement of the fatigue performance is reduced. Fractography showed that for untreated specimens, fatigue cracks always initiated on the surface. For the carburized specimens, however, the locations of crack initiation sites depend on the applied stress levels. Compressive residual stresses in the case move the crack initiation site to the sub-surface; the lower the applied stress, the deeper the initiation site. A quantitative analysis of the effect on fatigue behavior forms the basis for a life prediction model, which can accurately predict the fatigue life of AISI316L steel after low temperature carburization.