Grinding of WC-Co carbides - Machining theory in the grinding of two-phase materials with brittle-hard material behavior using the example of WC-Co carbides

 

The production of the composite material tungsten carbide has been characterized by large increases in sales since the start of production. This is due to the favourable combination of hardness and toughness, which has given the carbides a wide range of applications (e.g. milling and drilling tools) in many branches of industry. Due to these properties, which make hard metals difficult to machine, grinding usually takes place at the end of the manufacture of hard metal components.

Previous DFG-funded research has investigated the machining behaviour of WC-Co carbides as a function of the carbide specification. Within the scope of these investigations, it was possible to prove in particular that ductile machining is also possible with brittle-hard materials and that the carbide specification has a decisive influence on the machining behaviour and thus on the workpiece quality. The influence of the carbide specification on grinding tool wear is also unknown. Knowledge of the cause-effect relationships between carbide specification and wear of the grinding tool leads to an expanded understanding of the process. This enables the uncovering and utilization of further optimization potentials in the grinding of WC-Co carbides.

The aim of the project is to develop a description and explanation model for the wear of grinding tools as a function of the WC-Co carbide specification during grinding.