Effect of grain growth inhibitor on the wear of ultrafine cemented carbide cutting inserts

By using the method of low pressure sintering, both of adding and not adding grain growth inhibitor of WC-Co ultra-fine cemented carbide cutting inserts were prepared, tool life tests of continuous cutting superalloy GH2132 were carried out, respectively. ZEISS continuous zoom stereo microscope and microphotograph system were used to observe flank surface wear morphology of the cutting inserts, and analysis the topography and elements of central wear region of flank surface by X-ray energy dispersive spectrometry and scanning electron microscope. The results show that the main wear mechanism of ultrafine cemented carbide cutting inserts is adhesive wear, and the wear resistance of ultrafine cemented carbide cutting inserts that added grain growth inhibitor is superior to no grain growth inhibitor, adding grain growth inhibitor helps increase the resistance of abrasive wear, adhesive wear and oxidative wear as well as diffusive wear of cutting inserts).