Wear mechanisms of PVD ZrN coated tools in machining

Medium-frequency magnetron sputtered PVD ZrN coatings (ZrN, ZrN/Zr) were deposited on YT15 (WC + 15%TiC + 6%Co) cemented carbide. Microstructural and fundamental properties of these ZrN coatings were examined. Dry machining tests on hardened steel were carried out with these coated tools. The wear surface features were examined by scanning electron microscopy. Results showed that deposition of the PVD ZrN coatings onto the YT15 cemented carbide causes great increase in surface hardness. The ZC-1 coated tool (ZrN/YT15 without interlayer) has the highest surface hardness; while the ZC-2 (ZrN/Zr/YT15 with a Zr interlayer) shows the highest adhesion load for the coatings to the substrate. The ZrN coated tools exhibit improved rake and flank wear resistance to that of the YT15 tool. The coated tools with a Zr interlayer (ZC-2) have higher wear resistance over the one without Zr interlayer (ZC-1). The rake wear of the ZrN coated tools at low cutting speed was mainly abrasive wear; while the mechanism responsible for the rake wear at high cutting speed was determined to be adhesion. Extensive abrasive wear accompanied by small adhesive wear were found to be the predominant flank wear mechanisms for the ZrN coated tools.