Wear and surface characteristics on tool performance with CVD coating of Al2O3/TiCN inserts during machining of Inconel 718 alloys

The Inconel 718 alloys, which are primarily temperature resistant, are widely used in aviation, aerospace and nuclear industries. The study on dry cutting processes for this alloy becomes difficult due to its high hardness and low thermal conductivity, wherein, most of the heat transfers due to friction are accumulated over the tool surface. Further, several challenges like increased cutting force, developing high temperature and rapid tool wear are observed during its machining process. To overcome these, the coated tool inserts are used for machining the superalloys. In the present work, the cemented carbide tool is coated with chemical vapor deposition multi-layering Al 2O 3/TiCN under the dry cutting environment. The machining processes are carried out with varying cutting speeds: 65, 81, 95, and 106 m/min, feed rate 0.1 mm/rev, and depth of cut 0.2 mm. The variation in the cutting speeds can attain high temperatures, which may activate built-up-edge development which leads to extensive tool wear. In this context, the detailed chip morphology and its detailed analysis are carried out initially to understand the machining performance. Simultaneously, the surface roughness of the machined surface is studied for a clear understanding of the machining process. The potential tool wear mechanism in terms of abrasion, adhesion, tool chip off, delaminating of coating, flank wear, and crater wear is extensively identified during the processes. From the results, it is observed that the machining process at 81 m/min corresponds to a better machining process in terms of lesser cutting force, lower cutting temperature, better surface finish, and reduced tool wear than the other machining processes