Investigation of Flank Wear in Hard Turning of AISI 52100 Grade Steel Using Multilayer Coated Carbide and Mixed Ceramic Inserts

Heat-treated high carbon and high chromium steel alloys are popularly used in press tool, die mould, ball, and roller etc. making industries. Ceramic is well-known tool material for turning of heat-treated steel alloy. Nevertheless, the performance of low budget tool comparative to the ceramic tool is highly needed for economic concern. In this paper, multilayer coated carbide and ceramic tools are used as cutting tool materials to turn the heat-treated AISI 52100 bearing steel and the performance evaluation of both tools in terms of flank wear is compared. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) approach has been utilized to compare the results of both tools. The obtained width of flank wear was noticed to be below than 0.3 mm for both tools. Abrasion and adhesion are most acting wear mechanisms for coated carbide whereas abrasion is most dominant for the ceramic tool. For both tools, speed is the most dominating character for wear at the flank surface.