Application of AlTiBN Coating for Machining of Exotic Materials

Abstract

This study was intended to investigate the mechanical property and cutting performance of AlTiBN coating for machining of exotic materials such as heat-resistant alloys and Titanium alloys, which has been increasing for aerospace, energy and medical industries. In conventional PVD coatings for cutting tools, Cr and Si has often been added to AlTiN in order to increase hardness and heat resistance, achieving high wear resistance. However, these methods increase hardness as well as Young’s modulus, which reduces toughness of coating. In exotic materials milling, coatings with a high Young’s modulus tends to develop internal cracks, leading to early destruction of the coatings. In this research, optimizing B content of AlTiBN coating, we realized low Young’s modulus while maintaining high hardness. This is probably because the pure AlTiN changed to a mixed crystal structure of cubic and hexagonal by the addition of B. When the cutting performance of this AlTiBN coating was evaluated in milling for Inconel 718, it was found that internal cracks were suppressed at the initial stage of processing. As a result, cemented carbide tool with the AlTiBN coating achieved approximately 1.6 times longer tool life than that with B-free AlTiN coating.