Sliding wear testing of coated cutting tool materials

Abstract

The sliding wear characteristics of TiC-coated cemented carbide and TiN-coated high-speed steel during simulated machining conditions have been investigated using a modified pin-on-ring test. The influence of sliding distance and sliding speed on the amount of wear has been determined and the dominant wear mechanisms have been characterized using light optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The sliding wear resistance of the investigated material combinations was found to be strongly dependent on the sliding speed. The dominant wear mechanisms were identified as adhesive wear (coating) and solution wear (substrate) for the TiC-coated cemented carbide while the TiN-coated high-speed steel was worn by a combination of cracking and plucking of TiN fragments and adhesive wear of the high-speed steel.