Performance of Si3N4/(W, Ti)C graded ceramic tool in high-speed turning iron-based superalloys

A Si3N4/(W, Ti)C graded nano-composite ceramic tool was fabricated and its performance in high speed turning iron-based alloys GH2132 was investigated compared with homogeneous and commercial ceramic tools. The chip morphology, cutting forces, cutting temperature, tool life and failure mechanisms and machined surface roughness were recorded and analyzed. The results showed that with the increasing cutting speed the resultant cutting force shows a tendency to first increase and then decrease while the cutting temperature increases gradually. Straight continuous chips, bending continuous chips, twist continuous chips and snarled chips form in turn. Saw-tooth chips tend to form when the cutting speed is more than 200 m/min. The graded tool shows longer tool life especially at the cutting speed of 150 and 200 m/min compared with the homogenous and commercial ceramic tools. Tool failure modes mainly include grooving on the rake face, notching on the flank face, abrasion and adhesion. The grooving on the rake face tends to decrease while notching on the flank face tends to increase as cutting speed increases. Surface roughness of the machined iron-based super-alloys is relatively high due to the serious adhesion. Better surface roughness can be got using the graded tool.