Surface Properties and Performance of Multilayer Coated Tools in Turning Inconel

Nanostructured coatings were developed in order to machine nickel-based super-alloys in Minimum Quantity Lubrication (MQL), or dry conditions. Three dedicated coatings, TiN+AITiN, TiN+AITiN+MoS2 and CrN+CrN:C+C, applied by PVD on WC-Co inserts, developed nanostructured layers exhibiting superior performance, as confirmed by laboratory tests and machining experiments. Coatings surface qualification included, among other tests, SEM observation with EDS analysis, nanoindentation and scratch tests, classic tribological evaluation by ball-on-disk set-up, surface texture analysis. Dry and MQL turning experiments show substantial agreement with tribological and adhesion/toughness tests.