Tribological behaviour of Cryogenically Treated WC-9Co Cemented Carbide

• Main Authors: Padmakumar, M., Dinakaran, D., Guruprasath, J.
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cryogenic Treatment; Flank wear; Nose wear; Tungsten carbide; Wear resistance
• ISSN: 2214-7853; 2214-7853
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matpr.2017.11.458

Tool life is one of the most critical parameters that have a significant impact on the overall cost of machining. Tungsten carbide is one of the most commonly used cutting tool material due to its superior mechanical properties. Processes like applying hard coatings and doping with alloying elements are being adopted by the cutting tool industries to improve the tool life of tungsten carbide. Heat treatment is one such traditional process that alters the metallurgical properties of steel and hence improves the performance. But there is no such simpler and cost effective technique for tungsten carbide as it is virtually unaffected by thermal treatments. In this research, commercially available tungsten carbide turning inserts with 9% cobalt content were subjected to deep cryogenic treatments to study the effect of cold treatment on such super hard tool material. Wear resistance of the treated inserts were compared against the untreated insert in cylindrical turning on cast iron and steel, the two most commonly used industrial materials. The result shows that the cryogenically treated inserts showed improved flank wear and nose wear resistance than the untreated inserts on both the materials. Metallurgical evaluation and hardness study revealed the microstructural changes in cobalt binder.