Effects of Ni-Mo binder and laser surface engineering of NbC based cutting inserts during face-milling of automotive grey cast iron

Abstract

The main aim of this study was to design, develop and produce NbC-Ni cermet based cutting inserts as potential substitutes for conventional WC-Co based inserts for the face-milling machining of automotive grey cast iron (a-GCI), an alloy that plays a critical role in the automotive manufacturing industry. For this purpose, rapid pulsed electric current sintering (PECS), additions of Mo as a partial binder replacement and TiC and TiC 7 N3 as secondary hard phases, and femtosecond laser surface modification (LSM) technique were used in an effort to enhance the NbC-Ni based cutting inserts’ machining capabilities during face-milling of a- GCI. All the sintered samples achieved relative densities of 97% and above, irrespective of the sintering process. Adding Mo, TiC and TiC 7 N3 to the NbC-12Ni (wt%) composition refined the NbC grain size in PECS samples, enhancing hardness and wear resistance. Mechanical impact shock and wear resistance of inserts were further improved via femtosecond LSM, creating pyramid (P) LSM and shark skin (S) LSM based micro-patterns on the surface of the cutting inserts. Face milling machining tests of a-GCI were performed at 200-400 m/min cutting speed (𝑉𝑉𝑐𝑐) and 0.25-1.0 mm depth of cut (ap ). The inserts’ cutting-edge wear and failure were evaluated after every pass using optical microscopy and analysed via high angular annular dark field (HAADF)-scanning electron transmission microscopy (STEM). Machining performance was assessed by technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) based model using insert tool life (𝐼𝐼𝑙𝑙), specific cutting energy (𝑈𝑈𝑐𝑐) and maximum resultant cutting forces (Fmax ) as criteria and including surface roughness (Ra) during finishing operations. The pyramid LSM PECS NbC-10TiC-12N[Ni/Mo] (wt%) (R2MS-P1) insert was the top performer during semi-finishing, with 20 min 𝐼𝐼𝑙𝑙 , 22 J/mm 3 𝑈𝑈𝑐𝑐 and 1087 N Fmax , obtaining an overall preference score (𝑂𝑂𝑖𝑖) of 0.953. The best inserts during finishing 2 were the blank (B) (i.e. unmodified cutting edge) PECS NbC-10TiC 7 N3 -12Ni (wt.%) (TCN1S-B3) and LPS WC-10TiC-10[Co/Mo] (wt.%) (T1ML-B3) inserts with both inserts obtaining 𝑂𝑂𝑖𝑖s of 0.826, respectively. In general, additions of Mo, TiC, TiC7 N3 , PECS and LSM improved hardness and abrasion wear resistance, resulting in enhanced performance of NbC-Ni based cutting inserts during machining.