Title: Morphological investigation of Ti-6Al-4V chips produced by conventional turning

Authors: Kazi Badrul Ahsan; Abdul Md Mazid; Geoffrey K.H. Pang

Addresses: Central Queensland University, School of Engineering and Technology, Rockhampton, QLD 4702, Australia ' Central Queensland University, School of Engineering and Technology, Rockhampton, QLD 4702, Australia; Macquarie University, Department of Engineering, NSW 2109, Australia ' Central Queensland University, School of Engineering and Technology, Rockhampton, QLD 4702, Australia

Abstract: The chips produced while machining titanium alloys (Ti-alloys) exhibit a distinctive behaviour. The investigation of chip morphology has been emphasised by the researchers. This paper reports the results of a scientific examination to understand the morphological phenomena of chips of titanium α-β alloy Ti-6Al-4V. The whole examination is based on the traditional turning operation, and the machining has been performed by tungsten carbide tools (coated and uncoated) using optimal machining parameters in both of the cases for Ti-6Al-4V. Applying various selected combinations of optimal cutting parameters in the turning operation for the chosen types of tools, the chips produced have been collected and examined. Both optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) have been used for the detailed exploration. The study included a physiognomy analysis of chips and chip segments and then a detailed morphological analysis of chip segments (using SEM), which have revealed the nature of the adiabatic shear stresses and the phase-change phenomenon in the cutting zone of the superalloy.

Keywords: chip morphology; surface roughness; adiabatic shear stresses; machining; superalloys; Ti-6Al-4V chips; chip formation; titanium alloys; turning; tungsten carbide tools; phase change; chip segments; cutting parameters.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMMM.2016.075472

International Journal of Machining and Machinability of Materials, 2016 Vol.18 No.1/2, pp.138 - 154

Received: 10 Apr 2015
Accepted: 27 Oct 2015
Published online: 23 Mar 2016 *

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