Abstract: The state of ground surface layers is evaluated with different measuring techniques. The results of microhardness dislribulion. melallograph, surface topography and colour of the different ground surfaces are correlated with the related grinding power pc". If the Pc" exceeds a specific threshold, the physical properties and the colour of the ground surface are changed, caused by grinding burn. The degree of burning increases as the Pc" becomes higher. Under the flawless grinding condition the residual stresses can be calculated with an empirical equation.To results indicate that the different ground surface qualities and grinding burn degrees can be identified and estimated with the related grinding power P" during the grinding process without destruction of the workpiece.

Key words: ground surface qualy, grinding burn, grinding, casehardened steel