TOOL LIFE AND WEAR MECHANISMS FOR CERAMIC ON STEEL.

Abstract

Three different types of ceramic tools have been used for the machining of steel. K090 shows good performance at low cutting speeds as well as high cutting speeds. Syalon has poor performance mostly because it reacts with steel, especially at high cutting speeds. Two wear mechanisms were determined to be operating machining En9 Steel, these being attrition wear and diffusion wear mechanisms. The former is the dominant wear mechanism at low cutting speeds and the latter is the dominant wear mechanism at high cutting speeds. Further observations suggest that the diffusion wear is followed by attrition wear. Measurements of tool life and wear rate indicate that the tool life is controlled mainly by the wear on the flank face of the tool when machining En9 Steel with ceramic tools.