Micro-blasting of PVD Films, an Effective Way to Increase the Cutting Performance of Coated Cemented Carbide Tools

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 a 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.