Machining Performance of Hot-Pressed Carbon Nanotube Reinforced Alumina Cutting Tool Insert

• Published in: Journal of the Institution of Engineers (India) Series C 2018-12, Vol.99 (6), p.693-699
• Main Authors: Sarkar, Snehashis, Das, Santanu, Sarkar, Soumya, Das, Probal Kumar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aerospace Technology and Astronautics; Aluminum oxide; Cutting tools; Engineering; Fracture toughness; High strength low alloy steels; Industrial and Production Engineering; Inserts; Machine tool industry; Mechanical Engineering; Metal cutting; Multi wall carbon nanotubes; Nanocomposites; Original Contribution; Theoretical density; Thermal conductivity; Turning (machining)
• ISSN: 2250-0545; 2250-0553
• DOI: 10.1007/s40032-017-0376-8

Machining performance of monolithic alumina (Al 2 O 3 ) tool inserts for metal cutting through carbon nanotube (CNT) incorporation was studied in this work. 0.3 vol% multiwalled CNT(MWCNT)-Al 2 O 3 nanocomposite was prepared by hot-pressing at 1550°C with a dwell of 1 h under 2.5 MPa uniaxial pressure in static argon atmosphere. The hot-pressed nanocomposite achieved >99.5% of its theoretical density. The specimen also offered improved fracture toughness, K IC (~23% higher), flexural strength, σ FS (~10% higher), hardness, HV1 (~7.5% higher) and thermal conductivity, κ (~30% higher) compared to those of pure Al 2 O 3 (K IC  = 5.23 MPa-m 0.5 , σ FS  = 341.01 MPa, HV1 = 18.80 GPa, κ = 23.69 W/mK). Inserts developed with this nanocomposite having 0.8 and 1 mm nose radii demonstrated successful machining during turning of AISI 4340 steel rod (hardness = 38 HRC) in dry environment under different cutting conditions and showed promising applicability in machining industry.