Cutting performance improvement through micro-blasting on well-adherent PVD films on cemented carbide inserts

This paper investigates the feasibility of increasing the wear resistance of cemented carbide tools through micro-blasting of their PVD coatings. The enhanced and graded film strength properties before and after micro-blasting are determined by means of an FEM-based evaluation of nanoindentation results. The coating topomorphy induced by micro-blasting was monitored and correlated to the substrate roughness and film adhesion. The cutting performance of inserts coated with micro-blasted films was investigated in milling and explained with the aid of a cutting process FEM simulation. The obtained results reveal a tool life growth through micro-blasting of coatings, deposited on substrates with appropriate roughness characteristics.