Effect of grinding on the sub-surface and surface of electrodeposited chromium and steel substrate

Grinding is a machining process widely used in industry for machine parts manufacturing. In the case of electrodeposited chromium on steel, grinding does affect not only the chromium coating, but also the steel substrate. The microstructural changes of both coating and substrate were quantified under several grinding conditions. Depending upon whether the grinding process was gentle or abusive, residual stresses, crystallographic texture and microstructure evolve over large or small depths within the coating. Metallurgical and microstructural changes have been observed within the substrate. Measurement of the grinding temperature combined with finite element simulations, the modelling of the temperature rise through the material shows a good agreement with the microstructural observations.