Nickel-based alloys, referred to as the most difficult-to-cut materials, pose a great challenge to cutting tool materials due to their excellent high-temperature properties. Ceramic tools have the potential to improve the machinability of these alloys with the advance of toughening mechanisms. In this work, the wear mechanisms of SiC whisker-reinforced alumina and Sialon when high-speed turning Inconel 718 alloy under dry cutting condition were investigated. The results showed that the wear process of Al2O3-SiCw WG300 was dominated by the notch wear, while the flank wear characterized by ridges and grooves perpendicular to the cutting edge was the main wear mode for Sialon SX9. A Ti-enriched belt was found at the boundary of the wear band for both ceramic tools. The SEM inspection and EDS analysis for this belt suggested the trace of diffusion between the workpiece material and tool matrix. As for the notch formation, the periodically adhesive action of the workpiece material at the depth-of-cut line combined with the thermal shock resistance of ceramic tools were considered to account for its formation. In addition, the oxidation of the workpiece material at the depth-of-cut line played a positive role in reducing the adhesive affinity and consequent notch wear.
Keywords: ceramic tools; nickel-based alloys; notch formation; wear mechanisms.