TiSiCN Cutting Tool Coating for Wear and Breakage Resistance

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a demand for cutting tools with extended tool life to reduce manufacturing costs, and existing cutting tools do not adequately address wear resistance and longevity.

Innovation Solution

A cutting tool with a hard particle layer composed of titanium, silicon, and nitrogen, where the silicon concentration periodically changes along a specific direction and the hard particle layer has a (220) orientation, enhancing hardness, wear resistance, and breakage resistance, and is applied to a cemented carbide base material with a specific cobalt content.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a TiSiCN film is formed on a base material to improve wear resistance, then wear resistance is improved, but tool life remains insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewear resistanceVSAvoidtool life
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating a hard particle layer with non-uniform silicon distribution. The silicon concentration varies locally within the TiSiCN coating, with certain regions having higher silicon content than others. This localized compositional variation creates areas of different hardness and wear resistance, allowing the coating to better withstand varying mechanical stresses during cutting operations, thereby extending tool life while maintaining wear resistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements parameter changes by controlling the silicon concentration to periodically change along the radial direction of the hard particles. This periodic variation in silicon concentration (a compositional parameter) creates a layered structure within the coating with alternating high-silicon and low-silicon regions. The high-silicon regions provide enhanced wear resistance, while the low-silicon regions maintain toughness, collectively improving both wear resistance and tool life.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of manufacture

If the coating structure is simplified to reduce manufacturing complexity, then ease of manufacture is improved, but wear resistance and tool life are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoating formation simplicityVSAvoidwear resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies periodic action by creating a hard particle layer with periodic variation in silicon concentration along the radial direction. This periodic compositional modulation is achieved through controlled deposition processes that alternate between high-silicon and low-silicon regions. The periodic structure can be formed using cyclic deposition parameters or alternating gas flow patterns during CVD, allowing complex functionality to be achieved through relatively simple periodic process control, thus maintaining ease of manufacture while significantly improving wear resistance and tool life.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The cutting tool exhibits improved wear resistance, breakage resistance, and extended tool life, particularly in cast iron cutting, with enhanced film hardness and toughness, and easy identification of used cutting inserts.

Implementation Method 1

a nanocrystalline layer of TiC x N 1-x manufactured by a thermal CVD

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemical Vapour Deposition: Chemical Vapour Deposition

Data Source

PatentEP4331756A1Cutting tool
Publication Date: 2024.03.06 SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES LTD
  • EP4331756A1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4331756A1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP4331756A1 patent drawingFigure 6

AI summary

A cutting tool comprising a base material and a coating disposed on the base material, wherein the coating comprises a hard particle layer; the hard particle layer is formed from a plurality of hard particles including titanium, silicon, carbon, and nitrogen; in the hard particles, a concentration of the silicon periodically changes along a first direction set in the hard particles; and an orientation of the hard particle layer is a (220) orientation.