Application of the EBSD technique for the characterisation of deformation zones in metal cutting

The Electron Back Scattering Diffraction (EBSD) technique was applied for mapping the extent of plastic deformation zones of single and two-phase steels subjected to orthogonal cutting using the quick-stop method. The analysis of the EBSD patterns obtained indicates that the method appears to be applicable for investigating deformation in a chip root and is well suited for the analysis of the deformation zones ahead of the tool tip in the vicinity of the primary deformation zone Z1. Though the EBSD patterns (EBSPs) could not be resolved clearly in the chip in the case of materials displaying continuous chips (Remko iron, carbon steels), the analysis was more successful for materials exhibiting shear-localised chips such as austenitic steel, due to the presence of alternating low and high deformation zones. The presence of slip lines within the deformed grains in the austenitic chip material was clearly noticeable and also evidence of twinning deformation was found. The EBSD analysis of the machined surfaces indicated that the deepest heavily deformed area was found for the Remko iron material and the smallest for the austenitic variant. These results were also confirmed by microhardness profiling in the machined surfaces.