Effect of nitrogen ion implantation on the life time of WC-Co tools used in particleboard milling

Abstract

ABSTRACT This work explores an effect of nitrogen ion implantation on the life time of WC-Co tools used in particleboard milling. Nitrogen ions with different energy of 5, 50, and 500 keV and fluence of 1e17 and 5e17 cm−2 were implanted into the surface of commercially available WC-Co composite indexable knives, using the implanters with mass-separated ion beams. Both untreated and modified samples were subjected to microstructural and durability tests. Microstructural tests involved surface observation, determination of the nature of wear and cracks, determination of element depth profiles, and phase changes occurring in the modified area. Durability tests were conducted with the use of a computerized numerical control (CNC) machining center. The tests included determination of wear curves and calculation of quantities such as cutting length, relative tool life index, standard deviation, standard error, coefficient of variation and quality index and wear increases. Additionally, a histogram of the relative durability distribution of samples implanted with N+ was determined. In this study, an attempt was made to relate the durability results with the microstructure of the knives. Tools modified with a nitrogen ion beam of 50 keV showed the best durability results.