Tribological and thermal functions of cutting tool coatings

The study deals with the qualification of the tribological system ‘work material–coated carbide cutting tool–chip’. It is the aim of this paper to achieve a clearer understanding of the heat flow during the turning process in tool substrates. Results from experiments associated with an inverse heat conduction method signify the beneficial effects of coatings upon the interactions in the tool–chip interface (tribological effect), in addition to confirming previous theoritical approaches that their thermal barrier role does not exist. This highlights the advantages offered by certain coatings which combine hardness and self-lubricating properties, for example (Ti,Al)N+MoS2.