Layered coated cutting tool

• US 8,003,232 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2009
• Issued: 08/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seco Tools AB (Sandvik AB)
• Original Assignee: Seco Tools AB (Sandvik AB)
• Inventors: Johansson, Mats, Andersson, Jon, Sjolen, Jacob
• Primary Examiner(s): TURNER, ARCHENE A
• Application Number:
  US12/399,597
• Publication Number:
  US 20090226273A1
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• Field of Search: 513/07, 513/09, 428/216, 428/336, 428/697, 428/698, 428/699
• US Class Current: 428/697
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 14/0641 Nitrides C23C14/0617 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 30/005 on hard metal substrates
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 407/235 with integral chip breaker, guide or deflector
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 407/27 comprising tool of specific chemical composition
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 409/303752 Process
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 409/303808 including infeeding
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24975 No layer or component greater than 5 mils thick
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/265 1 mil or less

Abstract

Cutting tool inserts comprising a substrate selected from the group consisting of cemented carbide, cermet, ceramics, cubic boron nitride based material, and high speed steel; and a hard and wear-resistant coating comprising laminar polycrystalline metal nitrides layers are disclosed. Methods of making a cutting tool insert are also disclosed. In addition, methods for machining of stainless steel and super alloys using the cutting tool inserts are disclosed.

Claims

1. A cutting tool insert, comprising:

a substrate selected from the group consisting of cemented carbide, cermet, ceramics, cubic boron nitride based material, and high speed steel; and

a hard and wear-resistant coating comprising laminar polycrystalline metal nitrides layers;

wherein said laminar polycrystalline metal nitrides layers have a repetitive form

. . . A/B/A/C/A/B/A/C/ . . . with a total thickness of about 0.5 μ

m to about 5 μ

m;

wherein layer A is a cubic structured MeN, and Me is one or more of the metal elements selected from the group consisting of Ti, Nb, Hf, V, Ta, Zr, Cr, and Al;

wherein layer B is a cubic structured (Ti,Al)N; and

wherein layer C is a cubic structured (Ti,Si)N;

wherein the average composition of said laminar polycrystalline metal nitride layers is about 46 atomic share (at-%)<

Zr+Hf+V+Cr+Nb+Ta+Ti+Al+Si<

about 54 at-% and balance N;

wherein an average thickness of each of said layer A (d_A) is about 2 nm<

d_A<

about 100 nm;

wherein an average thickness of each of said layer B (d_B) is about 4 nm<

d_B<

about 150 nm; and

wherein an average thickness of each of said layer C (d_C) is about 4 nm<

d_C<

about 150 nm; and

wherein said average thickness of each of said layer A, said layer B, and layer C is substantially constant throughout said coating.

2. A cutting tool insert according to claim 1,

wherein the average composition of said laminar polycrystalline metal nitride

layers is about 48 at-%< Zr+Hf+V+Cr+Nb+Ta+Ti+Al+Si<

about 52 at-%.

3. A cutting tool insert according to claim 1,

wherein said average thickness of each of said layer A (d_A) is about 2 nm<

d_A<

about 25 nm;

wherein said average thickness of each of said layer B (d_B) is about 4 nm<

d_B<

about 50 nm; and

wherein an average thickness of each of said layer C (d_C) is about 4 nm<

d_C<

about 50 nm.

4. A cutting tool insert according to claim 1,

wherein said Me is one or more metals selected from the group consisting of Ti, Ta, Nb, and Al.

5. A cutting tool insert according to claim 1,

wherein said layer B is (Ti_1-xAl_x)N, where about 0.3<

x<

about 0.95; and

wherein said layer C is (Ti_1-ySi_y)N, where about 0.04<

y<

about 0.20.

6. A cutting tool insert according to claim 1,

wherein said layer B is (Ti_1-xAl_x)N, where about 0.45<

x<

about 0.75; and

wherein said layer C is (Ti_1-ySi_y)N, where about 0.06<

y<

about 0.12.

7. A cutting tool insert according to claim 1,

wherein said coating has been deposited with physical vapor deposition (PVD).

8. A cutting tool insert according to claim 1,

wherein said coating has been deposited with cathodic arc evaporation.

9. A cutting tool insert according to claim 1,

wherein said substrate is optionally coated with an inner single- or multilayer coating of at least one material selected from the group consisting of TiN, TiC, Ti(C,N), and (Ti,Al)N;

and

wherein said substrate is optionally coated with an outer single- or multilayer coating of at least one material selected from the group consisting of TiN, TiC, Ti(C,N), and (Ti,Al)N.

10. A cutting tool insert according to claim 9,

wherein said substrate is coated with an inner single- or multilayer coating of (Ti,Al)N.

11. A cutting tool insert according to claim 9,

wherein said substrate is coated with an outer single- or multilayer coating of (Ti,Al)N.

12. A cutting tool insert according to claim 9,

wherein the total coating thickness of said inner coating, said outer coating, and

said laminar polycrystalline metal nitride layers is about 0.5 μ

m to about 20 μ

m.

13. A cutting tool insert according to claim 9,

wherein the total coating thickness of said inner coating, said outer coating, and said laminar polycrystalline metal nitride layers is about 1 μ

m to about 10 μ

m.

14. A cutting tool insert, comprising:

a substrate selected from the group consisting of cemented carbide, cermet, ceramics, cubic boron nitride based material, and high speed steel; and

a hard and wear-resistant coating comprising laminar polycrystalline metal nitrides layers;

wherein said laminar polycrystalline metal nitrides layers have a repetitive form

. . . A/B/A/C/A/B/A/C/ . . . with a total thickness of about 0.5 μ

m to about 5 μ

m;

wherein layer A is a cubic structured TiN

wherein layer B is a cubic structured (Ti,Al)N; and

wherein layer C is a cubic structured (Ti,Si)N;

wherein the average composition of said laminar polycrystalline metal nitride layers is about 46 atomic share (at-%)<

Zr+Hf+V+Cr+Nb+Ta+Ti+Al+Si<

about 54 at-% and balance N;

wherein an average thickness of each of said layer A (d_A) is about 2 nm<

d_A<

about 100 nm;

wherein an average thickness of each of said layer B (d_B) is about 4 nm<

d_B<

about 150 nm; and

wherein an average thickness of each of said layer C (d_C) is about 4 nm<

d_C<

about 150 nm; and

wherein said average thickness of each of said layer A, said layer B, and layer C is substantially constant throughout said coating.

15. A cutting tool insert according to claim 14, wherein layer B is cubic structured (Ti_0.34Al_0.66)N.

16. A cutting tool insert according to claim 14, wherein layer C is cubic structured (Ti_0.91Si_0.09)N.

17. A cutting tool insert according to claim 14,

wherein said coating has been deposited with cathodic arc evaporation.

18. A cutting tool insert according to claim 14,

wherein said average thickness of each of said layer A (d_A) is about 2 nm<

d_A<

about 25 nm;

wherein said average thickness of each of said layer B (d_B) is about 4 nm<

d_B<

about 50 nm; and

wherein an average thickness of each of said layer C (d_C) is about 4 nm<

d_C<

about 50 nm.

19. A cutting tool insert according to claim 14,

wherein said substrate is optionally coated with an inner single- or multilayer coating of at least one material selected from the group consisting of TiN, TiC, Ti(C,N), and (Ti,Al)N;

and

wherein said substrate is optionally coated with an outer single- or multilayer coating of at least one material selected from the group consisting of TiN, TiC, Ti(C,N), and (Ti,Al)N.

20. A cutting tool insert according to claim 19,

wherein said substrate is coated with an inner single- or multilayer coating of (Ti,Al)N, and said substrate is coated with an outer single- or multilayer coating of (Ti,Al)N.