SiCホイスカ強化セラミックエ具の切削特性

抄録

Cutting performance of SiC-whisker (SiC_w) reinforced ceramic tools on the machining of gray cast iron was investigated. In continuous dry cutting, the toughened Al₂O₃ + SiC_w tool exhibited a stable and prolonged tool life compared to the Al₂O₃ + TiC tool. The life of the Al₂O₃ + SiC_w tool was about twice as long as the Al₂O₃ +TiC tool at the optimum cutting condition. Since groove wear was inhibited by the whiskers incorporation, the surface roughness of the workpiece after cutting was improved, resulting in the possibility of using the tool for finishing operation. Nevertheless, SiC_w reinforced ceramic tool can not be applicable for cutting of the cast iron containing a large amount of ferrite phase. In the interrupted cutting, a significant improvement of the tool life due to whisker reinforcement was observed in the alumina based tools compared to silicon nitride based tools. However, the SiC-whisker incorporation was effective for inhibiting the groove wear for both alumina and silicon nitride based tools.