Wear mechanism of coated carbide insert in turning of low alloy ultra-high strength steel 35CrMnSi

Based on the analysis of cutting characteristics of low alloy ultra-high strength steel 35CrMnSi, dry cutting experiments were conducted using coated carbide tools. The relationship of tool life with velocity and cutting time as well as the curve of t-v were achieved. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) were employed to observe morphological features of worn surfaces. The results indicate that the increase of cutting velocity in the selected range leads to the serious decline of the tool life. The rake face shows a pit-shaped crater wear by the effect of oxidation and diffusion wear and the shape of the crater increases with the chip flow-out. The effect of hard phase diffusion and bonding wear are the main cause of flank wear.