Self-Sharpening Failure Characteristic of a Si<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> Ceramic Tool in High Speed Cutting of Inconel 718

Abstract

A Si3N4 ceramic tool material with high mechanical properties was fabricated by hot-pressing sintering process. The high speed machining of Inconel 718 tests were carried out with round ceramic inserts. The failure surface and microstructure were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to reveal the ceramic tool failure mechanisms. The results showed that the main failure mechanisms of the Si3N4 ceramic tool were flaking, micro-chipping, abrasive wear and adhesive wear in the turning process. On the other hand, chipping, flaking and adhesive wear were the main failure reasons in the milling process. Meanwhile, some small flaking along the cutting edge and step-shaped flaking on the rake face closed to the cutting edge were found on the failure surfaces, which was a typical self-sharpening failure characteristic of the ceramic tool in the high-speed cutting process. This tool failure evolution characteristic of the ceramic tool can be attributed to its higher flexural strength and fracture toughness, which was beneficial to improve the tool life and was constrained by cutting conditions.