Influence of contact form on mechanical wear characteristics of single diamond scratching on Ta12W

Abstract

Purpose Mechanical wear is the main wear form of abrasive single crystal diamond (SCD) grit. The mechanical wear of SCD grit has a significant influence on the tool life and machining quality. This paper aims to investigate the influence of grit–workpiece contact form on the mechanical wear characteristics of SCD grit. Design/methodology/approach Three different grit–workpiece contact forms, which involved point/line/face contact forms, are investigated to reveal the wear mechanism of SCD grit scratching on Ta12W. The wear morphology, wear volume and scratching forces are measured, and the stress models of different contact forms are analyzed. Findings The results show that mechanical wear mainly occurs in the grit–workpiece contact area and increases gradually from contact area to entire SCD grit. The scratching forces vary with the mechanical wear progress of SCD grits. The SCD grit with point contact form is the most prone to produce wear. The SCD grit with face contact form can remove more material volume than the other two SCD grits, and it is the most wear resistant. The stress state is closely related with the mechanical wear of SCD grit. The contact form has a significant influence on the mechanical wear of SCD grit. Originality/value The results of this study can provide a theoretical basis for the fabrication of abrasive tools.