Spatially resolved structural and chemical properties of the white layer in machined Inconel 718 super alloy

Inconel 718 is one type of nickel-based alloy used for a large range of applications, including gas turbines and aeroengines components. Although mechanical and thermodynamic properties of this material have been deeply studied in the past years, a method able to investigate local properties of the thin white layer formed on the alloy surface after machining remains challenging. Here, a 90 nm X-ray beam is used to probe the local strain, crystal orientation, and chemical composition of grains in the white layer. Data reveals mosaicity induced by the tool during machining. The high spatial resolution, combined with crystal lattice sensitivity, shows that the average grain size is around 30 nm throughout the white layer, while the strain is anisotropic nearest to the surface. Results provide new insights on the basic properties of the white layer in super alloys, revealing important information about the impact of finish machining which might help to explain fatigue and cracking formation on these materials during their usage phase.