Improving the cutting performance of coated tools via appropriate pre- and post-treatments

Abstract

The cutting performance of PVD coated tools can be significantly improved by appropriate pre- and post- treatments of the substrates and coated surfaces respectively. Substrate pre-treatments aim, among others, at improving the coating adhesion. In this way, lower coating loads develop during cutting leading to a decelerated wear evolution. Furthermore, the potential to increase the wear resistance of coated tools via micro-blasting is presented. Micro-blasting parameters such as of grain material, pressure, dry or wet etc., affect significantly the superficial coatings' hardness and brittleness and in this way their wear behaviour. To check the effectiveness of all these methods, innovative coating's characterization procedures providing information concerning the film and substrate properties as well as adhesion are applied, thus reducing the required experimentation time.