STTR Phase I: A CBN/TiN Nanocomposite Coating for Cutting Tools

Nanomech, Llc, Fayetteville AR

Investigators

Abstract

This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project will develop a novel class of coatings, initially for hard turning cutting tool application, using a new hybrid coating technology. Specifically, it is proposed to develop cubic boron nitride-titanium nitride (cBN-TiN) nano and micro particulate composite coatings using a combination of electrostatic spray coating (ESC) of cBN powder and chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) of TiN. The project will follow a concept where initial work indicates that a thick cBN/TiN composite coating can be deposited in a practical hybrid deposition process using the ESC/CVI combination, and that cutting tools coated using this method can provide significant improvement in machining performance. Commercially, cBN tools are excellent candidates for machining hardened ferrous alloys and superalloys tools. Development of a cBN coating process can circumvent limitations of existing tools and thereby provide a significant improvement in cutting tool selection, productivity and application range where cBN tools simply do not exist (e.g., chip-breaker inserts, round-shank tools such as end-mills, and drills).