Papers by Author: Wolfgang Tillmann

Abstract: Sheet-bulk metal forming is a process used to manufacture load-adapted parts with high precision. However, bulk forming of sheet metals requires high forces, and thus tools applied for the operational demand have to withstand very high contact pressures, which lead to high wear and abrasion. The usage of conventional techniques like hardening and coating in order to reinforce the surface resistance are not sufficient enough in this case. In this paper, the tool resistance is improved by applying filigree bionic structures, especially structures adapted from the Scarabaeus beetle to the tool’s surface. The structures are realized by micromilling. Despite the high hardness of the tool material, very precise patterns are machined successfully using commercially available ball-end milling cutters. The nature-adapted surface patterns are combined with techniques like plasma nitriding and PVD coating, leading to a multilayer coating system. The effect of process parameters on the resistance of the tools is analyzed experimentally and compared to a conventional, unstructured, uncoated, only plasma nitrided forming tool. Therefore, the tools are used for an incremental bulk forming process on 2 mm thick metal sheets made of aluminum. The results show that the developed methodology is feasible to reduce the process forces and to improve the durability of the tools.

Abstract: It has been established that hardness and density of diamond-like carbon (DLC) layers can be raised by increasing ion energy during deposition, decreasing H-content and by increasing sp³-fraction. To confirm differences in hydrogen content of hydrogen containing and hydrogen free DLC films deposited at different bias voltages, layers were etched in oxygen atmosphere in a capacitively coupled plasma device. By employing real-time ellipsometry measurements, the H-content of the hydrogen containing a-C:H layers were estimated by determining the optical constants n and k (n-real part and k-imaginary part of the refractive index). In addition, DLC layers were analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy to estimate the ratio of sp^²- and sp^³-hybridization. The mechanical and tribological properties of the coatings were evaluated by means of nanoindentation and ball-on-disc-tests. Finally correlations between these properties, H-content and sp³/sp²-ratio were obtained in an effort to explain different tribological behaviors of DLC-layers.

Abstract: The availability of adequate joining technologies is of major importance in order to exploit the full potential of ceramic materials. The same is true for joints between cemented carbides and their counterparts. Such joints are not easy to manufacture due to wetting and bonding problems as well as induced thermal stresses. Currently, active brazing is a potential approach for fabricating such joints. The filler alloy contains reactive agents such as Titanium or Hafnium etc. that interact by forming wettable reaction layers on the ceramic surface. It is self-evident that they function very well on cemented carbides as well. The paper describes potential wetting and bonding reactions from a metallurgical point of view. Ceramics, superabrasive and cemented carbides are investigated with respect to interfacial reactions. The quality of the reaction products is of crucial importance regarding the mechanical performance of the joints, as their immanent brittleness can lead to a significant weakening. Apart from metallurgical assessments, mechanical tests are conducted in order to deliver data for their integration in hybrid structures. FE methods can be applied to assess the stress situation in the final joint. Thus it is possible to adjust the design accordingly.

Abstract: Since diamond like carbon layers feature excellent mechanical and tribological behavior under defined environmental circumstances, they are well established in a wide field of industrial and automotive applications in the last decade. However, the pretreatment of the substrate plays also an important role in supporting and enforcing the excellent properties of the coatings. This work analyses the effect of the plasma nitrided cold working steel substrate (80CrV2) on the adhesion, friction and wear resistance of DLC-coatings and compares it to the performance of DLC-coatings applied on a non-hardened substrate material. Therefore the grinded and polished specimens were nitrogen-hardened in an Arc-PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition)-device before the DLC-coating was applied in a Magnetron Sputter-PVD-process. In order to measure the hardness of the thin film coating, a nanoindenter was used. The adhesion was tested with a scratch tester and the wear resistance was measured by using a Ball-on-disc-tester. A 3D-profilometer and a SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) were utilized to analyze the scratches and wear tracks on the samples. With these results correlations between the substrate nitriding and the mechanical and tribological performance of the DLC-coating were made.

Abstract: It is very important to minimize wear and friction in forming processes in order to avoid adhesion between work piece and tool. For the realization of these requirements, the PVD-coating system CrAlN was deposited and tested on substrates made from high speed steel 1.3343 by means of a reactive sputter process. The coatings were deposited as single- and multilayers with a metallic Cr-interlayer. Prior to realizing the appropriate coating design, the substrates were pre-structured. For this purpose natural surfaces were used as a pattern and tested in this research work. The skin of an insect serves as a model and its fine structures were reproduced on the substrate surface by milling. The generated specimens were analyzed with a scanning electron microscope, nanoindenter and ball on disc tester to compare the performance of the coating systems.

Abstract: Diamond like carbon layers play a key role in industrial applications. However the layers quality deteriorates often due to insufficient interfacial adhesion. In this research work a prior plasma treatment of steel substrates was employed aimed to improve the interfacial adhesion of DLC-layers to steel substrates. Three different kinds of steels were employed and their microstructures as well as their compositions before and after plasma treatment were analyzed. The interfacial adhesion of DLC layers on the non-nitrided and nitrided steels was observed and the influence of the steel microstructure on the interfacial adhesion was studied.

Abstract: Deep drawing of high strength steels imposes high tribological requirements on forming tools. Thermal spraying is regarded as a promising technology to improve the tool’s performance and the service life of the forming tool, as long as ambitious demands of the coating process are matched. In order to qualify a thermal spraying process for a surface technology in deep drawing it is crucial that the coating obtains an extremely dense structure and a smooth, near-net-shape surface. The study presented considers two different approaches to achieve those goals. The application of fine-scaled powders (<10$m) spraying through HVOF technique offers the opportunity to deposit dense coatings with very smooth surfaces. In contrast, it is also feasible to achieve very smooth and dense coatings by combining conventional powders with a subsequently densification procedure

Abstract: Currently there is an increasing demand for composites and joints composed of hard materials, such as ceramics, superabrasives or metal-carbides, and metals. Wear pads, welded or brazed machining tools or composites employed for grinding tools are typical fields of application. All those various materials solutions have in common that there are interfaces between materials that typically have a covalent or ionic bonding and metals. Consequently, wetting and bonding problems arise. The paper presents different examples and discusses them with emphasize on the corresponding interfacial interactions. Furthermore measures are analysed that can be taken to influence the intensity and strength of the interfacial bonding between the materials to be joined.

Abstract: Multifunctional coatings open new dimensions due to a combination of properties like high friction and wear resistance, electrical attributes, heat or corrosion protection in one system. In this study multifunctional coatings for in-situ temperature measurements on cutting inserts as well as multilayer coatings have been investigated. Corresponding metallurgical analyses together with mechanical tests are presented.

Abstract: Due to their better mechanical and physical properties diamond tools have largely replaced cemented carbide tools for machining of mineral materials like concrete and rocks. The decomposition tendency of diamond has to be taken into consideration during the manufacturing process as well as during their employment in machining tools. By using water cooling the diamond decomposition is reduced, but the contamination of occupied buildings by concrete/rock-watermixture and the need of water supply units on building sites are unfavourable. However, absence of water cooling lead to an increased tribological and thermal wear of conventional diamond tools. Due to the heat development the diamonds in direct contact with mineral materials as well as the diamonds in deeper layers are deteriorated. The Institute of Materials Engineering pursues a novel thermal protection shield concept, in which thermal insulating materials such as Al2O3, ZrO2 or glass in diamond impregnated composite structures act as heat shield, which protects diamonds in deeper layers against high temperature and graphitisation. Before the effectiveness of this concept could be investigated suitable composites have to be manufactured. In this paper the powder metallurgical production processes of diamondalumina- cobalt-composites with varying alumina and cobalt particle sizes, their microstructures and porosities are described. In comparison to composites with larger alumina particle sizes it could be observed that the distribution of alumina particles with particle sizes below 70 ,m in the cobalt matrix is uniform and the porosity of the composite decrease.