Failure mechanisms of TiB2 particle and SiC whisker reinforced Al2O3 ceramic cutting tools when machining nickel-based alloys

In this paper, Al₂O₃/TiB₂/SiC_w ceramic cutting tools with different volume fraction of TiB₂ particles and SiC whiskers were produced by hot pressing. The fundamental properties of these composite tool materials were examined. Machining tests with these ceramic tools were carried out on the Inconel718 nickel-based alloys. The tool wear rates and the cutting temperature were measured. The failure mechanisms of these ceramic tools were investigated and correlated to their mechanical properties. Results showed that the fracture toughness and hardness of the composite tool materials continuously increased with increasing SiC whisker content up to 30 vol.%. The relative density decreased with increasing SiC whisker content, the trend of the flexural strength being the same as that of the relative density. Cutting speeds were found to have a profound effect on the wear behaviors of these ceramic tools. The ceramic tools exhibited relative small flank and crater wear at cutting speed lower than 100 m/min, within further increasing of the cutting speed the flank and crater wear increased greatly. Cutting speeds less than 100 m/min were proved to be the best range for this kind of ceramic tool when machining Inconel718 nickel-based alloys. The composite tool materials with higher SiC whisker content showed more wear resistance. Abrasive wear was found to be the predominant flank wear mechanism. While the mechanisms responsible for the crater wear were determined to be adhesion and diffusion due to the high cutting temperature.     

Chip formation analysis in high speed machining of a nickel base superalloy with silicon carbide whisker-reinforced alumina

High speed turning tests were performed on a heat resistant alloy (Inconel 718), using SiC (20%) whiskers reinforced ceramic tools. The main aims of these tests were the following: (1) mapping cutting speed-feed and machined volume in order to find a region free from tool breakage; (2) analysing tool wear and chip formation mechanisms; and (3) from the experimental results modelling analytically both chip formation processes and tool wear mechanism. Tool and chip were observed at the SEM and EDAX semiquantitative analyses were carried out to evaluate micro-welds on the chip and areas of welded or scattered material over the tool. Micro-hardness mapping was carried out on the longitudinal cross-section of the chips to monitor its dependence by process parameters. Variable wear mechanisms along the tool-chip contact length that were attributed to variations in plastic deformation energy were observed. There variations were analytically modelled in orthogonal cutting conditions. Longitudinal and tranverse shear planes into the chip were also observed. The causes and the mechanisms of wear, chip formation and the hardening of work material were deduced. The presence of whiskers pull out mechanisms due to temperature effects in the tool-chip interface were also observed.     

Wear behavior of Al2O3/Ti(C,N)/SiC new ceramic tool material when machining tool steel and cast iron

Design, fabrication and application of ceramic cutting tools are one of the important research topics in the field of metal cutting and advanced ceramic materials. In the present study, wear resistance of an advanced Al₂O₃/Ti(C,N)/SiC multiphase composite ceramic tool material have been studied when dry machining hardened tool steel and cast iron under different cutting conditions. Microstructures of the worn materials were observed with scanning electronic microscope to help analyze wear mechanisms. It is shown that when machining hardened tool steel at low speed wear mode of the kind of ceramic tool material is mainly flank wear with slight crater wear. The adhesion between tool and work piece is relatively weak. With the increase of cutting speed, cutting temperature increases consequently. As a result, the adhesion is intensified both in the crater area and flank face. The ceramic tool material has good wear resistance when machining grey cast iron with uniform flank wear. Wear mechanism is mainly abrasive wear at low cutting speed, while adhesion is intensified in the wear area at high cutting speed. Wear modes are dominantly rake face wear and flank wear in this case.     

Tool wear mechanisms of PcBN in machining Inconel 718: Analysis across multiple length scale

Recently, PcBN tooling have been successfully introduced in machining Ni-based superalloys, yet our knowledge of involved wear mechanisms remains limited. In this study, an in-depth investigation of PcBN tool degradation and related wear mechanisms when machining Inconel 718 was performed. Diffusional dissolution of cBN is an active wear mechanism. At high cutting speed oxidation of cBN becomes equally important. Apart from degradation, tool protection phenomena were also discovered. Oxidation of Inconel 718 resulted in formation of γ-Al₂O₃ and (Al,Cr,Ti)₃O₄ spinel that were deposited on the tool rake. Also on the rake, formation of (Ti,Nb,Cr)N takes place due to cBN-workpiece interaction. This creates a sandwich tool protection layer forming continuously as tool wear progresses. Such in operando protection enabled counterbalancing tool wear mechanisms and achieved high performance of PcBN in machining.     

New observations on tool wear mechanism in dry machining Inconel718

Tool wear is a problem in machining nickel-based alloy Inconel718, and it is thus of great importance to understand tool wear. Tool wear mechanism in dry machining Inconel718 with coated cemented carbide tools was analyzed in this paper. CCD and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS) were used to study tool wear mechanism. The results show that the main reason which causes cutting tool wear was that the tool materials fall off from the tool substrate in the form of wear debris. In addition,, element diffusion between tool and workpiece and oxidation reaction all accelerate the formation and the peeling of the wear debris. According to analysis of tool wear mechanism, tool flank wear model was established. The optimal temperature in machining Inconel718 with PVD-coated (TiAlN) tool was obtained through the established model. Excellent experimental agreement was achieved in optimal temperature calculated by the established model.     

Influence of oxygen on the tool wear in machining

High temperatures generated in machining are known to facilitate oxidation wear. A controlled atmosphere chamber was developed to investigate the effects of oxygen on tool wear and high speed machining tests were conducted on air and in argon. Cemented carbide, cermet and cubic boron nitride tooling was used on alloyed steel, hardened tool steel and superalloy Alloy 718. Machining in argon resulted in higher flank wear, higher cutting forces, and larger tool–chip contact length on the rake face. However, in hard machining, argon atmosphere reduced rake cratering. Transmission electron microscopy of tools worn on air showed formation of nanocrystalline Al₂O₃ film on the rake when machining aluminium containing Alloy 718, while no oxide films was detectable in the other cases.     

Machinability of hardened steel using alumina based ceramic cutting tools

Alumina based ceramic cutting tool is an attractive alternative for carbide tools in the machining of steel in its hardened condition. These ceramic cutting tools can machine with high cutting speed and produce good surface finish. The wear mechanism of these ceramic cutting tools should be properly understood for greater utilization. Two types of ceramic cutting tools namely Ti[C,N] mixed alumina ceramic cutting tool and zirconia toughened alumina ceramic cutting tool are used for our investigation. The machinability of hardened steel was evaluated by measurements of tool wear, cutting forces and surface finish of the work piece. These alumina based ceramic cutting tool materials produce good surface finish in the machining of hardened steel. In this paper an attempt is made to analyse the important wear mechanisms like abrasive wear, adhesive wear and diffusion wear of these ceramic cutting tool materials and the performance of these ceramic cutting tools related to the surface finish is also discussed here.     

Tool life and wear mechanisms in high speed machining of Ti–6Al–4V alloy with PCD tools under various coolant pressures

Usage of titanium alloys has increased since the past 50 years despite difficulties encountered during machining. Many studies involving different tool materials, cutting parameters, tool geometry and cutting fluids when machining this important aerospace material have been published. However, there are relatively few literatures available on the application of ultra hard tools in the machining of titanium-alloys. The primary objective of this study is to investigate the behaviour of Polycrystalline Diamond (PCD) tools when machining Ti–6Al–4V alloy at high speed conditions using high pressure coolant supplies. Tool performance under different tribological conditions and the dominant wear mechanisms were investigated. Increase in coolant pressure tends to improve tool life and reduce the adhesion tendency, accelerated by the susceptibility of titanium alloy to gall during machining. Adhesion and attrition are the dominant wear mechanisms when machining at the cutting conditions investigated.     

Performances of micro-textured WC-10Ni3Al cemented carbides cutting tool in turning of Ti6Al4V

Cutting performances of micro-textured WC-10Ni₃Al cutting tools compared with micro-textured WC-8Co cutting tools in turning of Ti6Al4V was investigated in this study. Cutting forces, cutting temperature, and tool life based on the criterion of a 300 μm flank wear were measured. The wear tracks of the rake face and flank face for micro-textured WC-10Ni₃Al cutting tools were analyzed. It is found that WC-10Ni₃Al cutting tools had smaller heat damages during LST compared with WC-8Co cutting tools, which was benefit for avoiding premature tool failure during Ti6Al4V machining process. Micro-textures on the rake face could effectively reduce cutting forces, cutting temperature, adhesion on the rake face, and hence increase tool life, especially at higher cutting speed.     

Use of ceramic tools for machining nickel based alloys

The paper is the first of two dealing with the use of ceramic tool materials for the machining of nickel based alloys. While the second contribution presents the results of detailed machinability tests, involving a cross-section of current nitride, superhard and whisker reinforced ceramic tooling products, this first paper comprehensively reviews existing literature on the subject.

Following an assessment of tool wear characteristics, such as depth-of-cut notching and the underlying mechanisms involved, in particular the effects of applied mechanical stress and high interface temperatures, details are given of the composition, structure, physical properties and cutting performance of various state-of-the-art ceramic tool materials. Although only recently available commercially, whisker reinforced composite tools, comprising an alumina matrix with approximately 25% by volume silicon carbide whiskers, are reported to be capable of operating at cutting speeds up to 750 m/min on some nickel based alloys.     

Wear mechanisms of PVD ZrN coated tools in machining

Medium-frequency magnetron sputtered PVD ZrN coatings (ZrN, ZrN/Zr) were deposited on YT15 (WC + 15%TiC + 6%Co) cemented carbide. Microstructural and fundamental properties of these ZrN coatings were examined. Dry machining tests on hardened steel were carried out with these coated tools. The wear surface features were examined by scanning electron microscopy. Results showed that deposition of the PVD ZrN coatings onto the YT15 cemented carbide causes great increase in surface hardness. The ZC-1 coated tool (ZrN/YT15 without interlayer) has the highest surface hardness; while the ZC-2 (ZrN/Zr/YT15 with a Zr interlayer) shows the highest adhesion load for the coatings to the substrate. The ZrN coated tools exhibit improved rake and flank wear resistance to that of the YT15 tool. The coated tools with a Zr interlayer (ZC-2) have higher wear resistance over the one without Zr interlayer (ZC-1). The rake wear of the ZrN coated tools at low cutting speed was mainly abrasive wear; while the mechanism responsible for the rake wear at high cutting speed was determined to be adhesion. Extensive abrasive wear accompanied by small adhesive wear were found to be the predominant flank wear mechanisms for the ZrN coated tools.     

Tool wear mechanisms and tool life enhancement in ultra-precision machining of titanium

Titanium and its alloys are generally considered as difficult-to-machine materials due to their poor thermal conductivity and high strength, which is maintained at elevated temperatures. This paper examines the tool wear mechanisms involved in ultra-precision machining of titanium. In this study single-crystal diamond tools were used to machine commercial pure titanium (CP-Ti) and Ti-6Al-4V alloy. Industrial expectations for surface quality and tool life based on optical grade applications are presented. Results obtained from the characterization of the tool, chip and workpiece led to the identification of graphitization as the mechanism that initiates tool wear. As the cutting edge rounds-off due to graphitization the rate of adhesion of the workpiece material onto the tool increased, which caused the quality of the surface finish to deteriorate. To reduce this wear mechanism a protective barrier made of Perfluoropolyether (PFPE) polymer, was explored. Tribometer studies with PFPE coated diamond tools and titanium pins showed a reduction in the coefficient of friction (COF). Subsequent machining tests using PFPE coated diamond tools showed promising results in extending the tool life and enhancing the surface quality to a point where Ti can now be considered as a viable option for applications involving optical grade surfaces.     

Properties and performances of innovative coated tools for turning inconel

Three innovative nanostructured coatings have been developed to be applied on cutting tools for continuous cutting of nickel-based super-alloys, in Minimum Quantity Lubrication (MQL) or dry conditions.The coatings, TiN+AlTiN, TiN+AlTiN+MoS₂ and CrN+CrN:C+C, were applied by PVD techniques on WC-Co inserts, developing nanostructured layers, characterised by superior performances, as confirmed both by laboratory tests and machining experiments.Coatings surface qualification included SEM observations with EDS analysis, ball erosion test, nanoindentation and scratch tests, classic tribological evaluation by ball-on-disc set-up, surface texture analysis.Results were analysed in light of the outcome of machining experiments performed mainly in dry and MQL turning of Inconel 718. Ball-on-disc and scratch tests, as well as machining experiments, agreed in classifying the coatings in the following decreasing performance order: TiN+AlTiN+MoS₂, followed by TiN+AlTiN, and by CrN+CrN:C+C.     

Modeling and measurement of wear of coated and uncoated high speed steel end mills

A research program was conducted to study tool wear on uncoated and coated (with TiN) high speed steel (HSS) for fluted end mill cutters. These cutters were used to machine AISI 4340 steel at axial and radial engagements of 12.7 mm (0.5 in.). All the machining was carried out using production conditions with the process periodically interrupted to carefully measure the wear condition of the cutting tool. Cutting conditions were carefully chosen so that a linear wear model for the useful life of the cutting tool could be statistically tested. One phase of testing used uncoated tools from 30 different suppliers and the nonstationary linear wear model provided a stochastic representation to determine tool quality using reliability and economic measures. Another phase used the coated tools and a stationary linear wear model to relate force, power, specific cutting energy, and mechanistic model parameters to service life measures. The cutters from each of these phases were carefully examined using optical and scanning electron microscopes so that the dominant wear mechanisms could be identified.     

PVD-Coatings for wear protection in dry cutting operations

Many ecological and economic problems in manufacturing are caused by the use of coolants. The benefits of coolants in cutting processes are reduced friction in the tool-workpiece contact (lubricating-effect) and transport of thermal energy dissipated in the contact zone (cooling-effect). Coatings separate the tool from the workpiece material and offer, when combined with cutting materials of high hot hardness, the possibility to replace coolants. Especially, the addition of aluminum to the TiN-coating system shows remarkable advantages for lubrication-free cutting operations. The formation of amorphous aluminum oxide on the top of the coating protects the film from further oxidation at high temperatures. In dry drilling of tempered steel the wear mechanisms of different coated WC-cemented carbide and cermet tools have been investigated. Due to the increased oxidation stability, especially of (Ti,Al)N-layers with a high content of aluminum, a superior wear behaviour in dry machining was found.     

Study on wear mechanisms and grain effects of PCD tool in machining laminated flooring

Polycrystalline diamond (PCD) tools have gained increasing application in woodworking industry for the phenomenal tool life and cutting finish compared with carbide tools. In the paper, machining experiments with PCD tools were conducted to mill laminated flooring with Al₂O₃ overlay. Four kinds of PCD products with different original diamond grain sizes were used to fabricate the cutters. Wear volume was measured by optical microscopy and wear morphology was examined by SEM and optical microscopy.The experimental results show that the wear mechanisms of PCD tools, in the machining process, involve inter-granular wear and partial cleavage fracture. The microcracks in PCD tools are a key reason for the wear of tools. By comparing the flank wear, the experiments reveal that PCD tools with middle original diamond grain size have long tool life. The influences of original diamond grain size on cutting edge and wear properties have also been discussed in detail.     

A comparative study of the cutting forces in high speed machining of Ti–6Al–4V and Inconel 718 with a round cutting edge tool

Titanium alloy Ti–6Al–4V and nickel-based superalloy Inconel 718 have been widely employed in modern manufacturing. The published literature on high speed machining (HSM) of the two materials often involves different machining set-up, which makes it difficult to directly apply the research findings from one material to the other to select the most appropriate tool geometry and cutting conditions. A comparative experimental study of HSM of Ti–6Al–4V and Inconel 718 is conducted in this paper using the same machining set-up. The scope of this study is limited in high speed finish machining, where the tool edge geometry plays a significant role. The experimental set-up and the methods of measuring the cutting forces and the tool edge radius are introduced. A total of 40 orthogonal high speed tube-cutting tests were performed, involving five levels of cutting speeds and four levels of feed rates. Based on extensive experimental data, the similarities and differences between HSM of Ti–6Al–4V and Inconel 718 are quantitatively compared and qualitatively explained in terms of four quantities: (1) the cutting force F_c, (2) the thrust force F_t, (3) the resultant force R, and (4) the force ratio F_c/F_t. A total of 12 empirical regression relationships are obtained.     

Tool wear and chip formation during hard turning with self-propelled rotary tools

This paper presents a performance assessment of rotary tool during machining hardened steel. The investigation includes an analysis of chip morphology and modes of tool wear. The effect of tool geometry and type of cutting tool material on the tool self-propelled motion are also investigated. Several tool materials were tested for wear resistance including carbide, coated carbide, and ceramics. The self-propelled coated carbide tools showed superior wear resistance. This was demonstrated by evenly distributed flank wear with no evidence of crater wear. The characteristics of temperature generated during machining with the rotary tool are studied. It was shown that reduced tool temperature eliminates the diffusion wear and dominates the abrasion wear. Also, increasing the tool rotational speed shifted the maximum temperature at the chip–tool interface towards the cutting edge.     

煤矿大型高锰钢托轮的切削试验研究

采用新型复合SiC、复合Si3N4和TiN涂层刀具对用于露天煤矿大型拖轮的高锰钢进行了切削加工对比研究，测量了切削温度、后刀面磨损量与切削时间或切削速度的关系曲线，以及刀具前、后刀面显微磨损、破损形貌和化学变化。试验表明，复合SiC是切削高锰钢的较理想的刀具，在切削效率和经济效益上均优于TiN涂层刀具和复合Si2N4刀具。     

Experimental investigation on the effect of the material microstructure on tool wear when machining hard titanium alloys: Ti–6Al–4V and Ti-555

An experimental investigation was conducted in this work to analyze the effect of the workpiece microstructure on tool wear behavior and stability of the cutting process during marching difficult to cut titanium alloys: Ti–6Al–4V and Ti-555. The analysis of tool–chip interface parameters such as friction, temperature rise, tool wear and workpiece microstructure evolution under different cutting conditions have been investigated. As the cutting speed increases, mean cutting forces and temperature show different progressions depending on the considered microstructure. Results show that wear modes of cutting tools used for machining the Ti-555 alloy exhibit contrast from those obtained for machining the Ti–6Al–4V alloy. Because of the fine-sized microstructure of the near-β titanium Ti-555, abrasion mode was often found to be the dominate wear mode for cemented cutting tools. However, adhesion and diffusion modes followed by coating delamination process were found as the main wear modes when machining the usual Ti–6Al–4V alloy by the same cutting tools. Moreover, a deformed layer was detected using SEM–EDS analysis from the sub-surface of the chip with β-grains orientation along the chip flow direction. The analysis of the microstructure confirms the intense deformation of the machined surface and shows a texture modification.