Multicomponent binders for PcBN performance enhancement in cutting tool applications

Summary, in English

This study proposes a novel design of binders for polycrystalline cubic boron nitride (PcBN) cutting tool materials. Well-known binder phases TiC and TiN were combined with transitional metal nitrides ZrN, VN, and HfN. Performance screenings of longitudinal turning Inconel 718 and AISI 316 L highlighted the superior performance of PcBN materials with mixed TiC-ZrN and TiC-VN binders. These two systems were further sintered in a wider range of temperatures. XRD and STEM-XEDS analysis confirmed mutual dissolution of both TiC and ZrN, and TiC and VN, thus forming two types of solid solutions (Ti,Zr)(C,N) and (Ti,V)(C,N). Extended performance tests showed that tools with TiC-ZrN binder outperform reference PcBN with TiC binder by up to 20% when machining Inconel 718. When machining hardened Caldie tool steel, the performance of tools with TiC-ZrN and TiC-VN binders were 80–90% higher than the reference tools.