The surface and subsurface conditions of components are significant for their functional properties. Every manufacturing process step changes the surface condition due to its mechanical, chemical and/or thermal impact. The depth of the affected zone varies for different machining operations, and is predetermined by the process parameters and characteristics. Furthermore, the initial state has a decisive influence on the interactions that lead to the final surface conditions. The aim of the investigation presented here is to compare the influence of the load characteristics over the depth applied to manufactured components by several different machining operations and to determine the causing mechanisms. In order to ensure better comparability between the surface modifications caused by different machining operations, the same material was used (AISI 4140; German steel grade 42CrMo4 acc. to DIN EN 10083-3) and annealed to a ferritic-pearlitic microstructure. Based on interdisciplinary cooperation within the collaborative research center CRC/Transregio 136 “Process Signatures”, seven different manufacturing processes, i.e., grinding, turning, deep rolling, laser processing, inductive heat treatment, electrical discharge machining (EDM) and electrochemical machining (ECM), were used, and the resulting surface zones were investigated by highly specialized analysis techniques. This work presents the results of X-ray measurements, hardness measurements and electron microscopic investigations. As a result, the characteristics and depths of the material modifications, as well as their underlying mechanisms and causes, were studied. Mechanisms occurring within 42CrMo4 steel due to thermal, mechanical, chemical or mixed impacts were identified as phase transformation, solidification and strengthening due to dislocation generation and accumulation, continuum dynamic recrystallization and dynamic recovery, as well as chemical reactions.

The efficiency of material removal by electrochemical machining (ECM) and rim zone modifications is highly dependent on material composition, the chemical surface condition at the break through potential, the electrolyte, the machining parameters and the resulting current densities and local current density distribution at the surfaces. The ECM process is mechanistically determined by transpassive anodic metal dissolution and layer formation at high voltages and specific electrolytic compositions. The mechanisms of transpassive anodic metal dissolution and oxide formation are not fully understood yet for steels such as 42CrMo4. Therefore, martensitic 42CrMo4 was subjected to ECM in sodium nitrate solution with two different current densities and compared to the native oxide of ground 42CrMo4. The material removal rate as well as anodic dissolution and transpassive oxide formation were investigated by mass spectroscopic analysis (ICP-MS) and (angle-resolved) X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy ((AR)XPS) after ECM. The results revealed the formation of a Fe_3−xO₄ mixed oxide and a change of the oxidation state for iron, chromium and molybdenum, e.g., 25% Fe (II) was present in the oxide at 20.6 A/cm² and was substituted by Fe (III) at 34.0 A/cm² to an amount of 10% Fe (II). Furthermore, ECM processing of 42CrMo4 in sodium nitrate solution was strongly determined by a stationary process with two parallel running steps: 1. Transpassive Fe_3−xO₄ mixed oxide formation/repassivation; as well as 2. dissolution of the transpassive oxide at the metal surface.

The surface and subsurface conditions of components are critical for their functional properties. Every manufacturing process modifies the surface condition as a consequence of its mechanical, chemical, and thermal impact or combinations of the three. The depth of the affected zone varies for different machining operations and is related to the process parameters and characteristics. Furthermore, the initial material state has a decisive influence on the modifications that lead to the final surface conditions. With this knowledge, the collaborative research center CRC/Transregio 136 “Process Signatures” started a first joint investigation to analyze the influence of several machining operations on the surface modifications of uniformly premanufactured samples in a broad study. The present paper focusses on four defined process chains which were analyzed in detail regarding the resulting surface conditions as a function of the initial state. Two different workpiece geometries of the same initial material (AISI 4140, 42CrMo4 (1.7225) classified according to DIN EN ISO 683-2) were treated in two different heat treating lines. Samples annealed to a ferritic-perlitic microstructure were additionally deep rolled as starting condition. Quenched and tempered samples were induction hardened before further process application. These two states were then submitted to six different manufacturing processes, i.e., grinding (with mainly mechanical or thermal impact), precision turning (mainly mechanical), laser processing (mainly thermal), electrical discharge machining (EDM, mainly thermal) and electrochemical machining (ECM, (mainly chemical impact). The resulting surface conditions were investigated after each step of the manufacturing chain by specialized analysis techniques regarding residual stresses, microstructure, and hardness distribution. Based on the process knowledge and on the systematic characterizations, the characteristics and depths of the material modifications, as well as their underlying mechanisms and causes, were investigated. Mechanisms occurring within AISI 4140 steel (42CrMo4) due to thermal, mechanical or mixed impacts were identified as work hardening, stress relief, recrystallization, re-hardening and melting, grain growth, and rearrangement of dislocations.

The electrochemical machining (ECM) of 42CrMo4 steel in sodium nitrate solution is mechanistically characterized by transpassive material dissolution and the formation of a Fe_3−xO₄ mixed oxide at the surface. It is assumed that the efficiency of material removal during ECM depends on the structure and composition of this oxide layer as well as on the microstructure of the material. Therefore, 42CrMo4 in different microstructures (ferritic–pearlitic and martensitic) was subjected to two ECM processes with current densities of about 20 A/cm² and 34 A/cm², respectively. The composition of the process electrolyte was analyzed via mass spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma in order to obtain information on the efficiency of material removal and the reaction mechanisms. This was followed by an X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis to detect the chemical composition and the binding states of chemical elements in the oxide formed during ECM. In summary, it has been demonstrated that the efficiency of material removal in both ECM processes is about 5–10% higher for martensitic 42CrMo4 than for ferritic–pearlitic 42CrMo4. This is on one hand attributed to the presence of the cementite phase at ferritic–pearlitic 42CrMo4, which promotes oxygen evolution and therefore has a negative effect on the material removal efficiency. On the other hand, it is assumed that an increasing proportion of Fe₂O₃ in the mixed oxide leads to an increase in the process efficiency.