Title: An experimental investigation of element diffusion and mechanical properties of solid WC/Co carbide tool in high-speed milling Ti6Al4V

Authors: Yujing Sun; Jie Sun; Jianfeng Li

Addresses: School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, Qilu University of Technology, Ji'nan, 250353, China ' School of Mechanical Engineering, Shandong University, Ji'nan, 250061, China ' School of Mechanical Engineering, Shandong University, Ji'nan, 250061, China

Abstract: During high-speed milling Ti6Al4V, the diffusion process is produced under the actions of high temperature, high pressure at the tool-chip interface, and the differences of the concentrations and diffusion coefficients of various elements of tool and workpiece. In this study, dry end milling tests on Ti6Al4V were carried out with solid WC/Co carbide tool. The Vickers hardness of tool near and far away from the rake face boundary of a circumferential cutting edge, regarded as diffusion interface, was measured. The element removing of tungsten (W), carbon (C), and cobalt (Co) of WC/Co carbide tool was examined by the energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). And the relationship between element diffusion and the variation of mechanical properties of WC/Co carbide tool was discussed. The results showed that the decohesion and removing of the tungsten carbide (WC) and cobalt (Co) particles due to diffusion leaded to the change of mechanical properties of the WC/Co carbide tool, which may contribute to more severe tool wear.

Keywords: element diffusion; mechanical properties; solid carbide tools; high-speed milling; high-speed machining; titanium alloys; tungsten carbide; cobalt; WC-Co; carbon; tool wear.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMMM.2015.072000

International Journal of Machining and Machinability of Materials, 2015 Vol.17 No.3/4, pp.319 - 329

Received: 24 Sep 2014
Accepted: 14 Mar 2015
Published online: 27 Sep 2015 *

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