Abstract
Surface roughness and tool wear was investigated when low-carbon resulfurized free machin-ing steel was cut by means of either plunge-machining or ordinary turning with a partially stabilized zirconia ceramic tool (PSZ). Moreover, the cutting performance of the PSZ tool was compared with that of some conventional tools. (1) Small amount of manganese sulfide inclu-sions in steel has trends toward to adhesion to the PSZ tool, resulting in the formation of MnS layer on the tool with a thickness of 2-3 μm. (2) The MnS layer seems to have a roll of a kind of lubricant, and restricts the formation of built-up edge and wearing the tool. (3) The perfor-mance of the PSZ tool is superior to both a high-speed steel tool and a sintered carbide tool with respect to surface roughness and tool wear.
