Study of tool wear and chemical interaction during machining of Ti6Al4V

Abstract The present study concerns an investigation of the wear on three uncoated cemented carbide grades, with differing binder content and grain size, during longitudinal turning of Ti6Al4V as a function of cutting speed. The creater wear at end of tool life is studied in detail using electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. It is observed that decreasing binder content results in slower wear progression and longer tool life. The microstructure of the adhered layer is also dependent on the binder content, where a lower amount of binder results in an increase of dark precipitates in the adhered layer. X-ray diffraction confirms the presence of bcc-W as a chemical wear product at the interface. Diffraction peaks corresponding to cubic (Ti,V)C are also occasionally observed.