Functionalization of stainless steel surface through mirror-quality finish grinding

In this study, a stainless steel mirror-finished surface obtained by a high-precision grinding process was investigated in detail using some advanced surface analyzing techniques. We found that the mirror-surface grinding process produced a stable oxide layer on the workpiece surface, and also that the abrasive elements of the grinding wheel penetrated and diffused into the substrate. Compared with surfaces that had been polished, surfaces that had been mirror-finished by grinding process exhibited superior surface properties including hardness, tribological and fatigue properties, corrosion and high-temperature oxidation resistances, and adhesive strength with coating films. In addition, varying the processing conditions offers the possibility of controlling the electrical potential characteristics and hydrophilicity of the surfaces.