Mechanical properties and cutting performance of laminated graphene composite ceramic tools

Abstract

Cemented carbide, alloy cast iron and stainless steel have been extensively utilized in the fields of energy, aerospace and other industries due to their excellent properties. However, above difficult-to-machine materials have also presented significant challenges for machining tools. Correspondingly, it is of the interest of the present study to design, manufacture and evaluate the performance of a laminated graphene composite ceramic tool (marked ATBGN). With the Al2O3/TiN as the matrix layer (marked ATN) and Al2O3/TiB2/graphene (marked ATBG) as the surface layer, the Al2O3/TiB2 (marked ATB) ceramic tool was also prepared. Experimental results showed that, the fracture toughness of ATB and ATBG was 5.19 MPa·m1/2 and 7.35 MPa·m1/2, respectively. The ATBGN showed the highest fracture toughness of 8.65 MPa·m1/2, which was 66.7 % and 17.7 % higher than that of ATB and ATBG, respectively. The effective cutting distance of ATB, ATBG and ATBGN was 4100 m, 5200 m and 6100 m, respectively. The graphene nanoplatelets played the role of self-lubrication during the cutting process, which significantly reduced the friction coefficient, and the surface residual compressive stress improved the wear resistance of the laminated graphene composite ceramic tool.