Vacuum Annealing Effect on the Wear Resistance of Tic-Tin-Al2O3 Cutting Tool Nanocomposites

Objective: The aim of this study is to improve the physical and mechanical properties of the TiC-TiN-Al2O3 system nanocomposite [1,2 ] developed at Georgian Technical University. Method: The effect of vacuum annealing at various temperatures and durations on the cutting and wear resistance properties of the material was studied. The cutting properties were examined on a lathe, and wear resistance was determined using microscopic methods. Results: It was found that the mechanical properties of the nanocomposite slightly improved under the influence of annealing temperature and duration. In terms of wear resistance and cutting properties, improvements of 25-30% were observed. The optimal annealing parameters are as follows: temperature - 600°C, time - 60 minutes, vacuum pressure - 10-2 Pa. Conclusion: To enhance the wear resistance and cutting properties of the TiC-TiN-Al2O3 system nanocomposite, a study was conducted to investigate the effects of vacuum annealing at 1400°C and 25 MPa pressure. The results showed that annealing reduced the surface defects and residual stresses in the material, leading to significant improvements in wear resistance and cutting properties. Specifically, the wear width of the cutting edge on the tool's back surface decreased from 0.43 mm to 0.29 mm, and the tool's operational lifespan increased by 10-25 minutes, depending on the cutting speed.