SOM-SEM-EDS Identification of Tool Wear Mechanisms in the Dry-Machining of Aerospace Titanium Alloys

Titanium based alloys, mainly UNS R56400 (Ti6Al4V), are increasingly being applied in the airship building industry due to its excellent physicochemical properties. Machining operations are usually required in the manufacturing processes of Ti based aerospace structural elements. However, high reactivity of Ti provokes a quick tool wear. So, in order to reach an economically acceptable production level, it is necessary to minimize the costs associated to tool wear. In this work, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Stereoscopic Optical Microscopy (SOM) and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) have been used for both analysing and identifying secondary adhesion mechanisms that are taking place when an aeronautical titanium alloy is machined. Special severe cutting conditions have been applied. Thus, titanium alloy have been dry machined with TiN coated WC-Co tools. Results obtained have shown that tool wear is controlled by a secondary adhesion mechanism, which presents two stages. A first stage is constituted by a TiOx multi-film formed onto the tool surfaces. A second step involves the mechanical adhesion of the alloy material to those surfaces. When this material is removed, tool particles are dragged off causing tool wear.