On slip band features and crack initiation in fatigued 316L austenitic stainless steel: Part 1: Analysis by electron back-scattered diffraction and atomic force microscopy

Electron back-scattered diffraction (EBSD) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) have been used to study surface slip features on 316L austenitic stainless steel polycrystals tested in the low cycle fatigue range. EBSD investigations allow activated slip planes to be identified for each grain and the local inclination of these slip planes to the surface to be calculated. AFM allows the height of steps induced at the surface along slip bands to be measured and the local morphology of extrusions to be characterized at a nanometer scale. In this study, both techniques are used on the same surface in order to combine crystallographic and topographic information. Based on the results, a schematic model of the slip band emergence is proposed.