Title: Wear patterns and mechanisms of ZrN coated tools in machining of hardened steel

Authors: Liu Jianhua, Deng Jianxin, Zhao Jinlong

Addresses: School of Mechanical Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250061, Shandong Province, PR China. ' School of Mechanical Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250061, Shandong Province, PR China. ' School of Mechanical Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250061, Shandong Province, PR China

Abstract: Medium-frequency magnetron sputtered PVD ZrN coatings were deposited on YG6 (WC + 6 wt% Co) cemented carbide inserts. Microstructural and fundamental properties of the ZrN coating were examined. Machining tests with these coated tools were carried out on the hardened steels. The tool wear rates and the cutting forces were measured. The wear patterns and mechanisms were investigated. Results showed that the ZrN coated tools showed much better cutting performance compared with that of the YG6 tools. The superior performance of the ZrN coated tools is related to the coating|s higher hardness in comparison with YG6 tools. These characteristics can endow the ZrN coated tool with higher wear resistance. Abrasive wear was found to be the predominant flank wear mechanism for the ZrN coated tools, while the mechanisms responsible for the rake wear were determined to be adhesion and coating wear.

Keywords: cutting tools; coatings; ZrN coating; wear mechanisms; wear patterns; machining; hardened steel; cemented carbide inserts; coated tools; tool wear; PVD; zirconium nitride.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMMM.2006.011374

International Journal of Machining and Machinability of Materials, 2006 Vol.1 No.3, pp.324 - 332

Published online: 24 Nov 2006 *

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