Wear mechanisms of PcBN tools when machining AISI 316L

This paper investigates the machinability of AISI 316L stainless steel without and with NMI treatment, when machined with three different PcBN tool grades: low cBN content (50% vol.), medium (65% vol.) and high (90% vol.). The NMI treatment consisted of resulfurized and Ca-treated steels with two different Si/Al ratio. The tool materials were evaluated in terms of tool life, showing the best performance for the medium cBN content grade. Results showed that the crater wear has a more significant effect on the tool performance than the standard wear criteria of maximum flank wear. The worn tools were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), focused ion beam (FIB) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In most cases, the crater exhibited three distinct regions from the edge to the end of the contact zone: the plateau, middle crater, and the upper region. Plateau and crater region displayed tool protective layer (TPL), consisting mostly of Al, Si, Mg and Ca-oxides; and some dimples in the tool from preferential wear of cBN grains. In the upper region of the best performing material, a ~1.5 μm thick TPL of mostly MnCr₂O₄ spinel was found, a result of the transfer of Mn- and Cr-rich oxide NMIs found in this material or oxidation of workpiece material, during the machining process.