Journal of Engineering Research and Studies E-ISSN0976-7916

Research Paper
MACHINING PERFORMANCE OF CRYOGENICALLY
TREATED AISI M2 HIGH SPEED STEEL TOOLS
Simranpreet Singh Gill
Address for Correspondence
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Beant College of Engineering and Technology,
Gurdaspur-143521, Punjab, India
ABSTRACT
Results in literature show microstructural changes in the cryogenically treated high speed steel (HSS) tool materials that can
influence tool lives and productivity significantly. However, the real machining performance of cryogenically treated HSS
tools in actual turning process has not been reported in any candidly accessible study. In order to understand the effect of
cryogenic treatment on HSS tools, a comparative investigation on machining performance of cryogenically treated AISI M2
HSS tools in orthogonal turning has been carried out in this study. The commercially available square shaped AISI M2 HSS
bits were procured and grinded on tool and cutter grinder to obtain tool signature as per IS:3019-1973. Two groups of tools
thus obtained were subjected to cryogenic treatment at two levels of 110 C (shallow treatment) and 196 C (deep
treatment) independently in addition to traditional heat treatment and then the turning tests were executed in accordance to
the International Standard Organization, ISO: 3685-1993. The criterion selected for determining the turning performance
was based on the maximum tool flank wear (0.6 mm). The results showed that cryogenically treated AISI M2 HSS tools
performed significantly better and the benefit achieved was considerably more in deep cryogenically treated tools as
compared to shallow cryogenically treated tools.
KEYWORDS: Deep cryogenic treatment, shallow cryogenic treatment, turning, ISO 3685-1993, flank wear, tool-life.
1. INTRODUCTION Cryogenic treatment is the process of submitting a
Numerous cutting tools have been developed material to subzero temperatures (below 0 C) in
continuously since the first cutting tool material order to enhance the service life through
suitable for use in metal cutting, carbon steel, was morphological changes that occurs during treatment.
developed a century ago[1]. The first tungsten rich In recent years, many small businesses have been set
alloy that was formally classified as high speed steel up to cryogenically treat finished HSS cutting tools
(HSS) is known by the AISI designation T1, which claiming significant improvements on their wear
was introduced in 1910 [2]. Although molybdenum resistance. However, scientific research on
rich high speed steels such as AISI M1 have been performance of cryogenically treated HSS tools in
used since the 1930s, shortages and hence high costs actual machining has been spotty, and only a few
of raw materials during World War II spurred the academic papers have been published especially on
development of alloy designs with molybdenum M2 HSS. The results can be surprisingly good,
being substituted for tungsten to produce cheaper depending on the application as some reports claim
steel. The developments in molybdenum rich HSS 92817% increases in tool lives after they have being
made them on par with and in certain cases better treated at 196 C [5].
than tungsten rich HSS. This started with the use of Cryogenic treatment, the discipline upon which the
M2 steel instead of T1 steel [3]. HSS is fairly well present study is based, can be considered a recent
used in the industry particularly in small scale development [6-13]. Enhancement of wear resistance
industries to date. The main applications of HSS tools of tool steels by cryogenic treatment has been cited in
are for drills, taps, milling cutters, broaches and also several studies [11, 14]. However, the available
bits where the economical cutting speed is too low to literature on the metallurgical changes conferred by
think about carbide tools [4]. cryogenic treatment lacks scientific understanding;
The life of HSS cutting tools plays a major role in also the contradictory results encountered lead to
increasing productivity and consequently is an misunderstanding the practical application of
important economic factor. Along with the ideal cryogenic treatment [14-18]. Some investigators
mishmash of alloying elements, a common approach argue that the improvement of wear resistance occurs
used in the past to increase the life of HSS cutting solitary due to transformation of retained austenite to
tools has been to heat treat tool materials, which martensite [6, 8, 10]. But, this phenomenon is a
provides greater control over the range of properties common characteristic to both the cold treatment and
such as excellent hardness and wear resistance allied the cryogenic treatment, and thus the significant
to good toughness. One of the major problems enhancement of wear resistance of tool steels by
associated with the conventional heat treatment of cryogenic treatment vis--vis cold treatment cannot
these steels is the content of retained austenite, which be solely attributed to the conversion of retained
is soft, unstable at low temperature and transforms austenite to martensite [7, 9, 18-21]. Many
into brittle martensite during service. Transformation investigators indicate that the refinement of
of austenite to martensite causes approximately 4% secondary carbides is the major cause for the
volume expansion, which results in distortion of the improvement in wear resistance by cryogenic
cutting tools. Thus subzero treatment is used for treatment [1-3, 8, 10, 20, 21]; but this opinion lacks
minimizing the amount of retained austenite in HSS appropriate experimental evidences [1, 8, 10, 20]. A
tool materials. Cryogenic treatment, a supplementary few researchers have studied the effect of cryogenic
subzero treatment to conventional heat treatment treatment on cutting tool steels but no study has been
process, has been around for many years but is truly found on the performance of cryogenically treated
in its infancy when compared to heat-treating. HSS tools in actual machining conditions. Gulyaev

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[19] was first to notice improvement in tool life after resulting into 100 % increase in the service life of
treating the HSS tools in temperature range of 80 C disk mill cutter tools [26]. According to Collins [27],
to 100 C for periods of about 30 min to 1 h. He the precipitation of fine carbides during the cryogenic
credited the improved cutting tool material properties treatment cycle causes an increase in the wear
to the transformation of retained austenite into resistance and in the tool toughness, but only a small,
martensite and the production of a more stable if any, in the tool hardness.
structure. Barron [6, 16, 22] did significant research The review of the literature reveals the potential of
on cryogenic processing of twelve different tool use of cryogenic treatment in improving the
steels including the M2 HSS at 84 C (maintaining performance of M2 HSS tools in turning of steels.
it at this temperature for 24 h) and showed that tool But the available results in the literature pertaining to
steels can improve various mechanical properties wear behaviour of M2 HSS tools subjected to
including hardness and strength, wear resistance and cryogenic treatment are not coherent and the
dimensional stability. When the temperature of the underlying postulated mechanism for achieving
cryogenic treatment was reduced further to 196 C, improved tool life is not well crytallised. The current
the wear resistance was increased even more. study is therefore aim to study the performance of
However, he noticed no change in the hardness cryogenically treated single-point M2 HSS tools in
values for any of the tested tool steel samples. Meng orthogonal turning conditions.
et al. [17] inferred that the improved wear resistance 2. MATERIALS AND METHODS
of Fe-1.4Cr-1C bearing steel by cryogenic treatment The tool material selected for the present
was due to constructive distribution of carbide rather investigation was M2 HSS which is generally used
than by transformation of retained austenite to where the economical turning speed is too low to
martensite. Mohanlal et al. [20] did machining tests think about carbide tools. The commercially available
to study the effect of cryogenic treatment on different square shaped (12mm12mm50mm) M2 HSS bits
steels and obtained nearly 110%, 87%, and 48% were procured and grinded on tool and cutter grinder
increase in tool life for cryogenically treated T1, M2, to obtain tool signature as per IS:3019-1973. Tool
and D3 tools, respectively, in comparison to the signature of the used M2 HSS tools is presented in
corresponding conventionally heat-treated tools. Table 1 and illustration of various tool signature
They postulated martensitic transformation or angles is shown in Fig.1.
precipitation of fine alloying carbides as the Table 1: Tool signature of the used M2 HSS tools
mechanism causing improvement in wear resistance. (IS: 3019-1973)
Molinari et al. [21] examined the effect of deep
cryogenic treatment on quenched and tempered AISI
M2 and H13 steels and reported higher wear
resistance for these steels compared to their
conventionally treated structures. The increase in
wear resistance of AISI M2 steel was attributed to
increased hardness whereas of AISI H13 steel the
increased wear resistance was explained by its
increased toughness due to cryogenic treatment.
Huang et al. [23] suggested that cryogenic treatment
not only assists carbide formation, increase in the
carbide population and increase in its volume fraction
in the martensitic matrix of M2 steel, but it also
makes the carbide distribution more homogeneous.
Leskovsek et al. [24] reported that vacuum heat
Fig.1 Illustration of various tool signature angles.
treated HSS, when subjected to cryogenic treatment
Three different groups of tools were obtained,
results in increased wear resistance. These
traditionally heat treated tools (TT) with no extra
investigators mentioned that the observed beneficial
treatment, shallow cryogenically treated tools (SCT)
effect can be related to suitable combination of the
and deep cryogenically treated tools (DCT). Each
resulting fracture toughness and hardness of the steel.
group contained 9 tools. It is important to note that
de Silva et al. [25] worked to verify the effect of
shallow and deep cryogenic treatment was executed
cryogenic treatment on M2 HSS tools after using
after traditional heat treatment as add on processes.
either laboratories or shop floor tests in an
The traditional heat treatment of tools consisted of
automotive industry. They reported favourable
austenitizing at 1190 C and gas quenching was
influences on the performance of the tools as
performed in salt bath and consequent tempering was
supported by sliding abrasion, hardness tests and
done at 450 C for 2h. The group of tools (9 tools)
microstructural analysis. In a more recent work Yun
meant for SCT was further subjected to cooling at
et al. [26] investigated the influence of deep
110 C and held at this temperature for 18h and
cryogenic treatment on the microstructures,
gradually brought back to room temperature.
mechanical properties, and service life of HSS tools
Similarly, the group of tools (9 tools) meant for DCT
and concluded that deep cryogenic treatment
was further subjected to cooling at 196 C and held
transforms retained austenite to martensite; while
for 38h and gradually brought back to room
martensite gets decomposed, ultrafine carbides
temperature. In this study, the tools were
precipitate out. The precipitation of ultrafine carbides
cryogenically treated under dry condition where the
has been assigned as the primary cause in increasing
tools being treated were not exposed to the liquid
the red hardness, strength, and toughness of HSS

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nitrogen to eliminate the risk and damage of thermal given in Table 2 and percentage change in tool life
shock. In order to avoid thermal shocks from rapid resulted from the application of cryogenic treatment
cooling and heating, the tools were cooled down and (SCT and DCT) is given in Table 3.
heated up slowly, to and from the shallow cryogenic
temperature (110 C) and deep cryogenic
temperature (196 C), over an 4h and 7h period
respectively with the temperature being monitored by
a thermocouple attached to the tools. This gives an
average heating/cooling rate of 0.5 C/min. After
this, two tempering cycles consisting of heating to
150 C were followed. Fig. 2 shows the heat
cryogenic treatment cycle of SCT and DCT tools.
Fig.3 Growth of maximum flank wear with machining
time at cutting speed of 35m/min.

Fig.2 Cryogenic treatment cycle for (a) SCT tools and

(b) DCT tools.
Hot rolled annealed steel stock (C-45) of initial
diameter 200 mm and length 800 mm was Fig.4 Growth of maximum flank wear with machining
orthogonally turned on CNC turning machine (MSC- time at cutting speed of 45m/min.
ZL25MC, Mori Seiki, Japan) by the M2 HSS tools
belonging to all three groups (TT, SCT and DCT).
Average values of maximum flank wear were
recorded at each cutting speed after each predefined
machining interval to minimize any possible error.
Also for each cutting speed and tool group, 3 tools
were used to get the average values of tool flank
wear. It is important to be mentioned that a new tool
was used for each turning machining test. The
method of measuring tool flank wear in this study
was in accordance to ISO 3685-1993. Studies so far Fig. 5 Growth of maximum flank wear with
have shown that the cutting speed is the most machining time at cutting speed of 55m/min.
dominate factor influencing tool life, followed by
feed and depth of cut, in that order [28, 29]. Hence,
only the cutting speed was varied in three steps as 35,
45 and 55 m/min based on preliminary turning tests.
All the cutting tests were performed at feed rate, f, of
0.1mm/rev and depth of cut, ap, of 1mm. Since the
width of flank wear was not regular along the cutting
edge, the maximum flank wear, VBmax, was measured
using an inverted metallurgical microscope (DM
ILM, Leica, Germany) after each predefined
machining interval. The tools were inspected under
the scanning electron microscope (F-200 FEI,
Quanta, Holland) to excavate the possible wear
mechanism. Oil-based coolant was pumped at rate of
3 l/min on the toolwork interface so as to flood the
cutting zone along with surrounding area in all
turning tests.
3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
The maximum flank wear (VBmax) values of the M2
HSS tools were measured at fixed machining
intervals, i.e. after 3 min for cutting speed of 35 and
45 m/min whereas after 2 min for cutting speed of 55
m/min. Three graphs have been plotted for maximum
flank wear (VBmax); one each for three cutting speeds
and every graph has one curve each for TT, SCT and
DCT tools as shown in Figs. 35. The representative
optical images of used tools are shown in Fig. 6. The Fig.6 Optical images of (a) TT, (b) SCT and (c) DCT
tool life of tools for all the selected cutting speeds are tools used for cutting speed of 5 m/min.

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 Journal of Engineering Research and Studies
Table 2: Tool life (min) for maximum flank wear VBmax
= 0.6mm.
Table 3: Percentage change in tool life for maximum
flank wear VBmax = 0.6mm.
As reflected in the graphs (Figs. 35) for all the three
cutting speeds, SCT and DCT M2 HSS tools resist
wearing on flank face more effectively thus
enhancing the working life of the cutting tools up to
significant extent. From the graph shown in Fig. 3 for
cutting speed 35 m/min, it is clear that the DCT M2
HSS tools performed comparatively better as
compared with SCT and TT tools. Also, the DCT M2
HSS tools proved to be more effective in resisting
wear as compared with SCT M2 HSS tools. The
reported increase in tool life of DCT and SCT M2
HSS tools is 50.93 % and 17.30% respectively as
compared with TT M2 HSS tools. Also, DCT M2
HSS tools reported 40.67% increase in cutting life as
compared with SCT. This considerable increase in
tool life in DCT and SCT tools can be attributed to
the morphological changes that might have occurred
in the M2 HSS tool materials during cryogenic
treatment. As the tool life gain obtained in DCT tools
is maximum, it can be concluded that extremely low
temperature treatments enables the M2 HSS tool
material to resist wear more effectively. The changes
occurred in metallurgy of M2 HSS material and the
mechanism of tool flank wear will be discussed in the
later part of the present paper.
From graph shown in Fig. 4, it is clear that the
percentage increase in tool life of DCT tools
(22.04%) as compared with SCT tools is not
convincing enough for cutting speed of 45 m/min.
This is contrary to the tool wear trend reported for
relatively lower cutting speed of 35 m/min and may
be attributed to the high toolchip interface
temperature that might have destroyed the special
properties induced in the cutting tools by cryogenic
treatment. It is interesting to note that even at
relatively higher cutting speed of 45 m/min, the
minimum percentage increase in tool life reported
(22.04%) is more than that of minimum increase in
tool life reported in machining at cutting speed of 35
m/min (17.30%) though the overall service life of
tools is comparatively short at cutting speed of 45
m/min. The service life of cutting tools kept on
decreasing as we increased the cutting speed further
to 55 m/min as shown in graphs presented in Fig. 5;
however, the maximum percentage increase in tool
life decreases as cutting speed was raised up to 55
m/min (47.99%). After critical analysis of data on
percentage increase in tool life tabulated in Table 3, it
can be concluded that more favourable results in term
of long tool life can be expected by deep cryogenic
treatment. It is apparent that the cryogenic treatment
neutralized the adverse effect of possible higher tool
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E-ISSN0976-7916
chip interface temperatures during machining thus
helped in restricting flank wear of cutting tools.
Setting a maximum flank wear (VBmax) of 0.6mm as
tool life criterion, the tool life for each cutting speed
was obtained. Plots of cutting speed and tool life on
double logarithmic scale to base 10 for all the tools
tested are shown in Fig. 7. It is apparent from the
graph shown in Fig. 7 that the deep cryogenic
treatment is more effective in increasing tool life at
all cutting speeds. It can also be analyzed from the
graph shown in Fig. 7 that the performance of cutting
tools is more consistent for DCT tools as the
dispersion of data points along the linear regression
line for DCT tools (regression coefficient R2 = 0.996)
is less as compared with dispersion of data points
along the linear regression line for SCT tools in
(regression coefficient R2 = 0.931) and TT tools
(regression coefficient R2 = 0.983). This may be one
of the reasons for relatively superior surface finish of
the machined surface on the work piece in case of
DCT tools in comparison to SCT and TT tools.
Moreover, this observation is also supported by the
smaller cutting forces sensed manually on the cutting
tools and lesser vibrations felt during turning while
using DCT tools. However, quantitative and
engineering analyses of these observations are
beyond the scope of present study and can be taken
for future research.
Fig.7 Tool life of cutting tools vs. cutting speed on
double logarithmic scale to base 10.
4. CONCLUSIONS
In the present work, the effect of cryogenic treatment
on M2 HSS turning tools was evaluated in terms of
tool flank wear. Summarizing the mean features of
the results, the following conclusions may be drawn.
1. The shallow cryogenic and deep cryogenic
treatment can significantly enhance the service
life of M2 HSS turning tools, however the tools
subjected to deep cryogenic treatment stand to
gain relatively more as compared with shallow
cryogenically treated tools. The recorded
maximum tool life enhancement over
traditionally heat treated tools in the present
study is approximately 35% for shallow
cryogenically treated tools and 50% for deep
cryogenically treated tools.
2. Deep cryogenically treated turning tools of M2
HSS perform more consistently as compared to
shallow cryogenically treated as well as
traditionally heat treated tools. This might result
in smaller cutting forces on the cutting tools and
lesser vibrations during turning.
3. Through SEM images of tool flank wear,
diffusion wear was identified as the dominated
 Journal of Engineering Research and Studies E-ISSN0976-7916
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 25. F.J. de Silva, S.D. Franco, A.R. Machado, E.O.
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providing grant (F.No: 8023/BOR/RID/RPS- 674685.
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