INCOSYNT: Innovative and efficient cutting tools obtained by self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) process

• Forschungsstelle: EU FRP
• Projektnummer: 01.0185
• Projekttitel Englisch: INCOSYNT: Innovative and efficient cutting tools obtained by self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) process

Schlüsselwörter (Englisch)

Cutting tools; cermet; powder metalurgic material; PVD coatings; high speed dry machining

Alternative Projektnummern (Englisch)

EU project number: G1ST-CT-2000-50011

Forschungsprogramme (Englisch)

EU-programme: 5. Frame Research Programme - 3.2 Marine sciences and technologies

Kurzbeschreibung (Englisch)

See abstract

Partner und Internationale Organisationen (Englisch)

Coordinator: T.T. Ferioli & Gianotti (I)

Abstract (Englisch)

1. Characterisation of commercial inserts
Four qualities of commercial inserts were characterised by ED5 and 5EM analysis, microhardness and density:
NO 1 -'V' TiCN based cermet N° 2 -'K' TiCN based cermet NO 3 -'KY' AlzO3 -TiC No 4 -'5' AlzO3 -TiC
Laboratory turning tests were performed on four different materials: Grey Cast Iron
GG25 and AI5I304, 42CrMo4, 38Mn5iV5 steels. These materials has been chosen for their wide range of both hardness and toughness. Cutting parameters were typical for finishing. The 'KY' insert showed the best performances on AI5I304 and 42CrM04 steels, and close-to-the-best on the other materials. This is due to the best compromise between
hardness and toughness, resulting from an optimal TiC content (27%) and size of the grains (1.24~m).
2. Characterisation of new sintered samples
.Powder system 1: TiC-AlzO3 .Powder system 2: TiC-TiBz
.TiC- TiBz-Mo2C-Ni (42-28-20-20%w): .TiC- TiBz-Ni (51-34-15%w)
3. One step SHS compaction (Self-propagating High temperature Synthesis)
As a sum up, a process was set up for the production of cermets for cutting tools
through simultaneous 5H5 reaction + densification in this task. The results in terms of
reaction conversion rate, microstructure and mechanical properties were good, and nearly- full-density cermets were produced in situ presenting an outstanding set of properties: the
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excellent values of hardness measured make them valid candidate materials for cutting tools production. The problems encountered in the process control limited in practice the ~ achievement of optimised massive parts: in particular efforts have to be made in order to obtain a full densification of the samples, a reliable reproducibility and constancy of the cermet microstructure and properties and to improve the reaction control to avoid the
formation of undesired brittle phases. These goals will be pursued through the optimisation of the process control: the main important item to be considered will be the development of a reliable temperature measurement. The next item, but not less important, is the heating rate increase. It's expected that with a higher heating rate the process control should be easier due to less uncertainty in the knowledge of the reaction onset.
Planned activities for the next period for are:
.correlation between properties of commercial inserts/synthesis process/cutting performance;
.benchmarking on cermet commercial tools; .machining tests on new developed inserts.

Datenbankreferenzen (Englisch)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 01.0185