769

Machining of martensitic stainless steel (JETHETE)

with coated carbides
A Jawaid1 , K A Olajire2 * and E O Ezugwu2
1
School of Engineering, Coventry University, UK
2
Machining Research Centre, School of Engineering Systems and Design, South Bank University, London, UK

Abstract: Tool life and wear models were tted for machining a martensitic stainless steel (JETHETE)
with three ceramic-coated carbides [CVD-Ti(C,N)/Al2 O3 (T1), CVD-Ti(C,N)/TiC/Al 2 O 3 (T2) and
PVD-TiN (T3)] using statistical regression analysis. The statistical analysis revealed the contribution
of the cutting speed and feed rate to tool performance to be in excess of 80 per cent, with the
cutting speed showing the greater degree of in uence. Signi cant nose wear was the common failure
mode observed at higher speed conditions. Plastic deformation and chipping/fracture at the cutting
edge were additional failure modes observed when machining with the T2 and T3 tool grades
respectively. The coarse grain size and high cobalt content contributed to the very poor
performance of the multicoated T2 grade insert, while the improved microhardness of the PVD-TiN
coating gave the single layer coated T3 grade a comparable performance with the multicoated T1
grade. Attrition wear was the principal wear mechanism at lower speed conditions, while
dissolution /diVusion and abrasion were additional wear mechanisms when machining at higher
speed conditions. A higher degree of diVusion wear occurred on the T3 grade insert owing to the
relatively lower level of cubic carbides in the tool composition.
Keywords: wear model, tool life model, martensitic stainless steel, coated carbides
1

INTRODUCTION

Martensitic stainless steels contain between 11 18% Cr

and 0.1 1.0% C and can be hardened and tempered to
achieve tensile strengths in the range 550 1000 N/mm
[1]. The alloy steel can be used for cutlery, surgical instruments, fasteners, valves, spindles and shafts owing to its
suitable physical and mechanical properties. JETHETE
is a jet engine heat-resistant stainless steel of martensitic
structure and is used for critical aircraft components,
such as in gears, bearings and undercarriage applications, whose failure can jeopardize the entire safety of
the aircraft. Additional uses of the alloy steel in the
aerospace industry include casings, rings and anges,
and compressor blades and vanes. These applications
require [2]:
(a) high static and fatigue strength to withstand instantaneous and dynamic loads, and high rotational
speeds and bending stresses;
(b) adequate toughness to withstand shock loads;
The MS was received on 4 November 1999 and was accepted after
revision for publication on 22 April 2000.
*Corresponding author: Machining Research Centre, School of
Engineering Systems and Design, South Bank University, 103 Borough
Road, London SE1 0AA, UK.
B09399 # IMechE 2001

(c) high stiVness to resist deformation;

(d) high hardness to prevent rolling contact fatigue
damage and frictional wear;
(e) adequate resistance to corrosion and stress corrosion
cracking;
(f ) temperature resistance up to 400 8C.
The property requirements often cause high tool cutting
edge temperature and component forces, and reduced
tool life through rapid wear or premature tool failure
[3, 4]. A tangential cutting force in excess of 3500 N has
been observed when machining a martensitic stainless
steel of 200 HV with coated carbide tools at a cutting
speed of 130 m/min [5]. Such a high cutting force
means a high machining power required and a high
compressive stress at the tool cutting edge, which can
result in chipping/fracture and excessive frictional heat
promoted by tool particles usually sandwiched at the
tool workpiece interface. The frictional heat can lead
to machined surface layer alterations which reduces the
fatigue strength of the machined component by up to
30 per cent [2], with such fatigue damage in landing
gear applications accounting for approximately 37 per
cent of all aircraft accidents [6]. This statistic limits the
high-speed machining productivity of martensitic
stainless steels, as a rapid rate of nose wear is a major
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A JAWAID, K A OLAJIRE AND E O EZUGWU

Table 1

Cutting tools data

Tool code

Substrate

Others

T1

Grain size: 1 2 mm
Hardness: 92 Rockwell A
Grade: P05/K05-P15/K15

Coating: Ti(C,N) (5 mm), Al2 O3 (8 mm)

Binder content: 5.9%
Cubic carbides: 8.4%
Thermal conductivity: 90 W/m K
Coating technique: CVD
Chip geometry: Medium nishing

T2

Grain size: 1 8 mm
Hardness: 90 Rockwell A
Grade: P20/M20-P40/M40

Coating: Ti(C,N) Al2 O3 TiN (10 mm)

Binder content: 18.0%
Cubic carbides: 8.4%
Thermal conductivity: 95 W/m K)
Coating technique: CVD
Chip geometry: Roughing

T3

Grain size: 1 3 mm
Hardness: 93 Rockwell A
Grade: K05-K15, M05-M20

Coating: TiN (2 mm)

Binder content: 6.0%
Cubic carbides: Traces
Coating technique: PVD
Chip geometry: Medium nishing

Cutting geometry: back rake angle 68; cutting rake angle 68; approach angle: 958.

maximum ank wear 50.7 mm,

notch wear 51.0 mm,
nose wear 50.5 mm,
cut surface roughness value 56.0 mm (centre-line
average).

engineering problem identi ed in machining this

material [7].
The machining cost is a key component of the total
cost of a machined part, and the introduction of
trigon-shaped inserts to reduce the cost per edge of
cutting tools can increase the productivity of machining.
Three commercially available trigon-shaped grade
inserts, one PVD single layer coated and two CVD multilayer coated tools, were tested in the turning of a martensitic stainless steel (JETHETE) in order to evaluate the
eVect of cutting variables (cutting speed and feed rate)
on tool life, failure mode and wear rate of the grade
inserts. This will inform the choice of cutting conditions
for optimal tool wear rate when machining martensitic
stainless steels with this group of grade inserts.

(c)
(d)
(e)
(f )

A constant depth of cut was used because it has the least

eVect on cutting edge temperature during machining [9].
The eVects of cutting speed and feed rate were estimated
using the modi ed Taylor equations given below:

EXPERIMENTAL TECHNIQUES

The martensitic stainless steel bars machined were in the

form of cylindrical bars (200 mm diameter 400 mm
length) conforming to the ISO requirement for testpieces
(length diameter ratio 410) [8]. The turning operation
was carried out without coolant on a computer numerical control (CNC) lathe. Up to 6 mm of material was
removed from the outside surface of the cast skin,
prior to the machining trials, to minimize any eVect of
inhomogeneity of the machined surface and the
associated experimental scatter. The workpiece bars
were also chamfered at one end prior to the tests to
avoid any damage to the inserts on entry into the workpiece. Machining was halted after 20 min if negligible
tool wear was observed, or when any of the stipulated
rejection criteria was exceeded. The rejection criteria
adopted during machining were:
(a) chipping/fracture of the cutting edge,
(b) average ank wear 50.4 mm,
Proc Instn Mech Engrs Vol 215 Part B

The ISO 3685 [8] was only used as a benchmark for

selecting the rejection criteria since it was not primarily
set up for advanced cutting tools such as coated carbides.
Tables 1 and 2 contain detailed information on the
cutting tools and workpiece material used for this
study. The cutting conditions employed are listed below:
(a) cutting speed 100 150 m/min (lower/milder) and
200 250 m/min (higher/more severe);
(b) feed rate 0.2 and 0.4 mm/rev;
(c) depth of cut 2 mm.

T CV t1 f t2

W KV w1 f w2

where T and W represent the tool life and wear rate

respectively, and C and K are the accompanying constants for a given tool workpiece material combination
for tool life and wear rate. The exponents t1 and w1
represent the eVects of cutting speed on tool life
Table 2

Chemical composition of the martensitic stainless

steel (JETHETE)

Si

Mn

Cr

Mo

Ni

0.105

0.35

0.7

0.03

0.025

11.75

1.75

2.5

0.325

0.0275

Supply condition: hardened and tempered; hardness 299 HV.

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and wear rate, while t2 and w2 express the eVects of feed

rate.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

3.1 Tool life and failure mode

Recorded tool lives and failure modes when machining
the martensitic stainless steel with diVerent types of
coated-carbide tool are summarized in Fig. 1. The
machining trials were stopped after 20 min at the lower
speed conditions owing to low wear rates on the grade
inserts. However, the T2 grade insert failed by ank
wear at a cutting speed of 100 m/min and feed rate of
0.4 mm/rev. Signi cant nose wear was the dominant failure mode at the higher speed conditions (Figs 2 and 3a).

Fig. 1

Chipping/fracture of the cutting edge as well as crater

wear also occurred when machining with T3 grade at
lower and higher speed conditions (Fig. 3b). An increase
in cutting speed reduces the chip tool contact length and
the hardness of the worn cutting tools owing to the elevated temperatures generated at the chip tool and
tool workpiece interfaces [10]. The sharp cutting edge
enhanced by the PVD coating technique, pronounced
crater wear formation and the eVects of increased cutting
speed on the tool hardness and chip tool contact length
promote compressive stresses acting on the cutting edge,
causing chipping/fracture of the T3 grade inserts at
higher speed conditions. The chipped carbide particles
are usually sandwiched between the chip tool and
tool workpiece interfaces, resulting in rapid wear
which is more noticeable at the tool nose region. The
increasing depth and width of the grooves formed on

Recorded tool life and failure modes in turning a martensitic stainless steel with coated carbode tools

(a)
Fig. 2

771

(b)

(a) Nose and ank wear, chipping and coating delamination and (b) coating delamination and fracture
of a T1 grade insert after machining at higher speed conditions

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Shiny crater
wear

(a)
Fig. 3

(b)

(a) Chipping, nose and ank wear of a T2 grade insert and (b) chipping, crater and minor ank wear of
a T3 grade insert at higher speed conditions

the minor ank (Fig. 3b) with prolonged machining illustrate the size of the chipped particles removed from the
cutting edge.
Additional wear modes contributing to failure of the
T1 and T2 grade inserts at various cutting conditions
were edge chipping, plastic deformation and coating
delamination. Figure 4 shows a push inwards on the
ank and depression on the rake face, suggesting plastic
deformation of the T1 and T2 grade inserts. However,
the T1 and T3 grade inserts gave better tool performance
than the T2 grade during machining. The improved performance may be associated with their ner grain sizes
(43.0 mm) which enhance the hardness and consequently
the wear resistance of the cutting tools. The stable thermal properties of the alumina coating on the T1 grade
inserts and the high lubricity quality of the TiN coating
on T3 grade inserts also minimize the cutting edge temperature to improve the wear performance. The coarse
grain size and higher cobalt content aVected the resistance to cutting edge fracture of the T2 grade insert
during machining [10]. This is evident from the plastic

deformation of the cutting edge observed on the worn

insert and the depth of groove created on the nose by
the chipped carbide particles (Fig. 3a).

3.2 EVect of coatings and cutting conditions on tool life

and wear rate
The best tool performance was recorded when machining
with the CVD-Ti(C,N)/Al2 O3 coated tools (T1), while
the CVD-Ti(C,N)/Al 2 O 3 /TiN coated inserts (T2) gave
the worst performance. The single PVD-TiN coated
inserts (T3) gave an intermediate performance and, in
some cases, provided a comparable performance with
the T1 tool grade owing to the similar grain size and
hardness properties of the tool substrates. Both the
lubricity and higher microhardness value of TiN coatings, enhanced by the PVD coating process, improved
the wear resistance of the T3 grade inserts. A summary
of the nose and ank wear rates for each tool grade
tested is given in Table 3. T3 grade inserts gave the

Push inward on flank

and micro-plucking
of coating

(a)
Fig. 4

Push inward on flank

and micro-plucking
of coating

(b)
Plastic deformation/phenomenon of attrition on (a) T1 and (b) T2 at higher speed conditions

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Table 3

773

Summary of nose and ank face wear rates (mm/min)

Feed rate f 0:2 mm/rev

Feed rate f 0:4 mm/rev

Speed (m/min)

T1

T2

T3

T1

T2

T3

100
150
200
250

0.019
0.021
0.088
0.156

0.011
0.017
0.194
0.381

0.007
0.013
0.059
0.159

0.025
0.104
0.469
0.506

0.102
1.176
2.278
21.74

0.011
0.094
0.636
2.335

lowest wear rate, except at the highest cutting speed of

250 m/min. The best performance of the T1 grade insert
could be due to the thermal stability of the alumina top
coating when machining at conditions where high interface temperatures are generated. The T2 grade insert consistently gave the highest wear rates owing to its higher
coeYcients of thermal conductivity and thermal expansion (Table 1). These adversely aVect tool performance
when machining at higher speed conditions in excess of
150 m/min. Although the ability of a tool material to
deform plastically prior to fracture increases with the
level of cobalt binder, the susceptibility of the T2 inserts
to thermal eVects encourage tool failure by plastic deformation, chipping/fracture of the cutting edge and coating
delamination (Fig. 5). Delamination of the coating layers
on T2 inserts during machining can be attributed to the
greater heat absorption (95 W/m K) by the cutting tool
and the diVerence in the thermal expansion coeYcients
of the tungsten carbide substrate (7:3 106 /K) and the
Ti(C,N) coating layer (8:0 106 /K). This exposes the
substrate material to the direct eVect of heat generated
at the chip tool and tool workpiece interfaces by
friction, thus resulting in a weakened cobalt binder and

eventual plastic deformation or premature failure of the

tool with prolonged machining.
The eVects of cutting speed and feed rate on tool life
are given in equations (3) to (5):
T1 111 100:8V 2:18569f 1:26562;

r2T1 0:857299

T2 1 337 722V 3:37802f 3:22694;

r2T2 0:928268

T3 1 953 611V 3:03375f 2:18627;

r2T3 0:813076

3
4
5

The exponents in the equations show that cutting speed

had a greater eVect on tool life than the feed rate for
each tool grade. The equations are presented graphically
in Fig. 6. The value of r2 in each equation is the proportion of tool life in uenced by the cutting speed and feed
rate for each tool grade. For instance, about 86 per cent
of factors in uencing tool life of the T1 grade insert can
be attributed to the eVects of cutting speed and feed rate,
while the remainder (14 per cent) can be attributed to

Segregation
of coating
layers

Fig. 5

Magni ed section of the rake face of a T2 insert, showing segregation of the coating layers at higher
speed conditions

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Fig. 6

EVect of the cutting speed and feed rate on the life of coated carbide tools

other factors such as vibration of the machining system

and inhomogeneity of the workpiece structure. Shorter
tool lives were recorded with T2 inserts owing to the
associated plastic deformation and/or premature failure
mostly observed at higher feed conditions. There is no
signi cant diVerence in tool lives obtained at the higher
feed rate when machining between cutting speeds of
150 and 250 m/min (Fig. 6).
Similarly, equations (6) to (8) are the models of the
nose and ank wear rates for the coated carbide tools.
W1 1:57E 07V 3:010064f 1:709948;

r2W1 0:916259

W2 2:18E 09V 4:833257f 4:697662;

r2W2 0:95423

Fig. 7

6
7

W3 8:83E 11V 4:697353f 2:700536;

r2W3 0:937125
8

The eVect of cutting speed was more pronounced in all

cases, similarly suggesting its greater eVect on tool
wear. The coeYcient of determination, r2 , shows the
extent to which temperature and stresses generated
through cutting speed and feed rate in uence tool wear
rate. The in uence of the unknown factors on tool
wear rate is generally less than 8 per cent for each of
the tool grades. Similar wear performance was obtained
for each tool grade at the lower speed conditions for both
feed rates, except for the T2 grade which experienced
rapid wear at the higher feed conditions (Fig. 7). The
gure also shows the comparable wear performance of
CVD-Al2 O3 and PVD-TiN top coating layers on the

EVect of the cutting speed and feed rate on the wear rate of coated carbide tools

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T1 and T2 tool grades at higher speed conditions. A

review of equations (3) to (8) reveals that the exponents
for the cutting speed and feed rate were higher for the
T2 grade inserts, thus suggesting its limitation for use
in high-speed/feed machining applications where greater
degrees of thermomechanical loads are experienced.
3.3 Wear mechanism studies
The mechanisms underlying the wear modes at the faces
of the cutting tools are identi ed and discussed below.
3.3.1

Rake face wear

Wear occurred at the cutting edge and at the backwall of

the chip-breaker groove when machining at the lower
speed conditions; hence traces of aking or delamination
of the coating materials were observed on the worn tools.
Chipping of the cutting edge was also observed on the
worn T1 grade. Energy dispersive X-ray analysis indicated exposure of the second coating layer [Ti(C,N)]
and the carbide substrate, thereby suggesting delamination wear of the Al2 O3 coating [7]. Under less laminar
and more intermittent chip ow at lower speed
conditions, chip fragments accumulate to form a builtup edge (BUE). The BUE can be stable, in which case
fragments of the work material continue to build on it,
or unstable, in which case the accumulated fragments
are sheared away by the fast owing chip. Under
unstable cutting conditions, a shearing action may
take place within the tool material to cause microchipping of the cutting edge. Additionally, the less
laminar chip ow causes localized tensile stresses on
the tool rake face which result in plucking action. This
is an indication of the attrition wear mechanism

775

(Fig. 8). The localized tensile stresses can initiate coating

delamination by the consistent shearing action of the
chip owing past the cutting edge. Similar wear modes
also occurred on the T2 grade insert (Fig. 9a). A closer
examination of Figs 8 and 9a suggests that a higher
degree of attrition wear occurred when machining with
the T2 grade which can be attributed to the coarse
grain size of the carbide substrate as well as its higher
cobalt content. A coarse grain size and high cobalt content have been shown to in uence the degree of attrition
wear [10].
An increase in cutting speed leads to a more laminar
chip ow. Signi cant delamination of the coating
layers and chipping at the cutting edge occurred at
high speed conditions, in addition to cracks (Fig. 10),
plastic deformation and crater wear on T1, T2 and T3
tool grades respectively. The high compressive stress
acting at the nose region of the rake face on account of
increased cutting speed as well as the eVect of interface
temperature on hardness can promote the formation of
cracks such as those observed on the T1 grade insert.
DiVusion wear is dependent on cutting temperature,
time of contact and contact pressure between two
bodies containing diVusible elements of diVerent concentration gradients [11]. This wear mechanism can occur
and dominate in those regions where the chip has more
direct contact with the tool substrate. An enlarged view
of the wear on the rake face of the T2 grade insert
shows obvious segregation of the coating layers (Fig.
5). This can lead to a localized exposure of the substrate
to encourage diVusion wear. Smooth crater wear formation on the rake face of the T3 grade after machining at
higher speed conditions suggests the occurrence and
dominance of a diVusion wear mechanism (Fig. 3b).
This can be attributed to the slight traces of cubic

Chip flow
direction

Fig. 8
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Plucking of the tool rake face and plastic ow of TiN at lower speed conditions
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(a)

(b)

Fig. 9

(a) Coating delamination, voids and smooth wear of tungsten carbide on T2 at lower speed conditions
and (b) variation in the standard free energy of formation of WC, TiN, TiC and Al2 O3 with temperature

Fig. 10

Cracks and delamination of the Ti(C,N) coating on T1 inserts after machining at higher speed
conditions

carbides in the microstructure. Cubic carbides (TiC,

TaC, NbC) are stable ceramic compounds that
strengthen the tungsten carbide substrate against the
eVect of diVusion wear. Additionally, Fig. 9b shows the
free energy of formation [12], an indication of the
thermodynamic stability or susceptibility to diVusion
Table 4
Tool material
WC
TiC
TiN
Al2 O3
Proc Instn Mech Engrs Vol 215 Part B

wear, for tungsten carbide and ceramic coatings.

Alumina is the most stable of the coating materials,
hence the negligible crater wear observed on the T1
and T2 grade inserts. Table 4 also details the solubility
product and solubility limit data for tungsten carbide
and coating materials. The direct contact of the chip or

Solubility data for tool materials in iron and steel [13]

Solubility product
(wt % )

Solubility limit
(wt % )

Temperature
(8C)

Phase

1:42 102
1:04 105
1:00 1014

7.0
3:0 101
7:1 103
2:0 107

1250
1250
1250
1600

g-Fe
g-Fe
g-Fe
Liquid Fe

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Fig. 11

777

(a) Schematic representation of dissolution/diVusion wear regions and (b) dissolution/diVusion model

workpiece with either the WC Co or WC TiC Co substrate and the dissociation of compounds such as WC
and TiC into their atomic elements will enhance consequent dissolution /diVusion of the atoms into the ow
zone up to their respective solubility limits [13]. A
model of the tool chip ow and tool workpiece shear
zones, illustrating the regions of dissolution /diVusion
wear, is given in Fig. 11a. This model is applicable to
any ow zones where temperature is suYcient for
atomic dissolution /diVusion. Owing to the interface
temperature of about 1115 8C [14], the tool chip and
tool workpiece interfaces will be regions for atoms of
diVerent sizes and misoriented crystals from the cutting
tool and workpiece materials (Fig. 11b). The short
travel distances for atoms of the tool and workpiece
materials to the interface and the large number of vacancies in the newly formed zone will promote the saturation
of the region with diVusible atoms from the workpiece
and tool materials within a short period of time. The
atomic concentration gradient of each tool material in
the newly formed zone will be dependent on its free
energy of formation and equilibrium solubility limits or
products. With prolonged machining, atoms of the tool
materials will diVuse from the newly formed zone to
the owing chip or shear zone. This weakens the cutting
tool, thus explaining the greater degree of diVusion wear
observed when machining with the T3 grade insert. Shear

Table 5

zone grain boundaries and dislocations have been identi ed as possible diVusion paths [13].
3.3.2 Nose and Xank face wear
Table 5 and Fig. 12 respectively provide a summary of the
failure modes and typical ank wear patterns at lower
and higher speed conditions for the coated carbide
inserts. At higher speed conditions such as 200 m/min,
the wear progression was almost linear and very rapid,
hence the low tool lives (45 min) obtained. Tool wear
at the other speed conditions investigated was rapid at
the beginning of machining, followed by a gradual and
steady wear, and an abrupt wear region when tool failure
occurred. There were vertical grooves formed on the nose
and ank regions of the worn T1 grade insert after
machining at lower speed conditions. These grooves
were also formed perpendicular to the cutting edge on
the rake face. A similar observation was made, to a
lesser extent, on the nose and ank regions of T2 and
T3 grade inserts, suggesting higher lubricity of the TiN
coating relative to the Al 2 O3 coating. The grooves are
indications of an abrasion wear mechanism, caused by
the dragging action of the moving tool over the hard
carbide particles sandwiched between the cutting tool
and the machined surface. The chipping/fracture
phenomenon was more severe at higher speed conditions.

Summary of failure/wear modes

Cutting condition

T1

T2

T3

Lower

Chipping
Coating delamination

Chipping
Nose and ank wear

Chipping
Coating delamination
Crater wear

Higher

Chipping
Nose and ank wear
Coating delamination
Cracks

Chipping
Nose and ank wear
Coating delamination
Plastic deformation

Chipping
Nose and ank wear
Coating delamination
Crater wear

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Fig. 12

Typical wear pattern of the coated carbide inserts in dry turning of a martensitic stainless steel at
various cutting conditions

Typical nose and ank wear lands on the worn inserts are
shown in Figs 2 and 3. The smearing of the workpiece
material on the nose and ank faces of the cutting tools
indicates a slow movement of the workpiece relative to
the ank and nose regions of the tool and the signi cant
compressive force acting at the interface. The combined
actions of temperature, intimate contact and slow relative
movement between the workpiece and nose/ ank regions
of the tools would encourage simultaneous actions of
attrition and diVusion wear mechanisms. The attrition
wear mechanism is characterized by a microplucking
action of the coatings at the tool ank face and nose
region, as shown in Figs 4a and b.
4

CONCLUSIONS

1. Tool life and wear models were tted for the machining of a martensitic stainless steel (JETHETE) with
CVD-Ti(C,N)/Al2 O3 (T1), CVD-Ti(C,N)/TiC/Al2 O 3
(T2) and PVD-TiN (T3) coated carbides using a
statistical regression technique.
2. Statistical analysis revealed that the cutting speed has
a greater eVect on tool performance than the feed
rate. Other less prominent factors include vibration
of the machining system and inhomogeneity of the
workpiece material.
3. Low wear rates occurred when machining JETHETE
with the three grades of coated carbide tools at the
lower speed conditions, while signi cant nose wear
was the dominant failure mode when machining at
higher speed conditions. Plastic deformation and
chipping/fracture of the cutting edge were additional
failure modes observed on the CVD and PVD coated
tool grades respectively.
Proc Instn Mech Engrs Vol 215 Part B

4. The CVD-Ti(C,N)/TiC/Al2 O3 triple layer coated

T2 inserts gave the poorest tool performance owing
to the greater eVects of thermomechanical loads,
its coarse grain size and higher cobalt content. A
comparable performance was recorded when
machining with the CVD-Ti(C,N)/Al2 O3 (T1) and
PVD-TiN (T3) coated grade inserts because of the
quality of the substrate and the thermal stability of
the alumina coating on the T1 grade and the
improved microhardness of the PVD-TiN coating
on the T3 grade.
5. Attrition wear was the principal wear mechanism at
lower speed conditions, while attrition, abrasion
and diVusion wear mechanisms jointly controlled
the failure modes at higher speed conditions.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors wish to express their gratitude for the
kind support received from Rolls Royce plc, SECO
Tools (UK) Limited and Kennametal Hertel (UK)
Limited.

REFERENCES
1 Elliott, D. and Tupholme, S. M. An Introduction to Steel
Selection: Part 2, Stainless Steels, 1981 (Oxford University
Press).
2 Flower, H. M. High Performance in Aerospace Materials,
1995 (Chapman and Hall, London).
3 Kosa, T. and Ney, R. P. Machining of stainless steels. In
Metals Handbook: Machining (Eds J. R. Davis et al.), 9th
edition, 1989, Vol. 16, pp. 681 707 (ASM International).
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MACHINING OF MARTENSITIC STAINLESS STEEL

4 Jiang, L., Hanninen, H., Paro, J. and Kauppinen, V.

Active wear and failure mechanisms of TiN-coated high
speed steel and TiN-coated cemented carbide tools
when machining powder metallurgically made stainless
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