Aluminum oxide coated tool

Abstract

There is provided a tool at least partly coated with at least two refractory layers of which one of the said layers is a fine-grained α-Al 2 O 3 -layer which is the top layer along the cutting edge-line and the other a TiC x N y O z - or a ZrC x N y -layer being the top layer on the clearance face. The coated tool exhibits excellent flank and crater wear and high resistance to flaking, particularly when used for machining of low carbon steel and stainless steel. Used cutting edges can easily be identified by the naked eye.

1. A cutting tool insert made of cemented carbide, titanium based carbonitride or ceramics having an improved resistance to smearing of the workpiece material on the cutting edge comprising a body of generally polygonal or round shape having an upper face, an opposite face and at least one clearance face intersecting said upper and lower faces to define a cutting edge, said insert being at least partly coated with at least two refractory layers of which one is a fine-grained α-Al 2 O 3 -layer and the other is an MeC x N y O z -layer where Me is a metal selected from the group consisting of the metals in the Groups IVB, VB and VIB of the Periodic Table and (x+y+z)=1, said Al 2 O 3 -layer being the top layer along the cutting edge-line and on the upper face and said MeC x N y O z -layer being the top layer on the clearance face. 
     
     
       2. The cutting tool insert of  claim 1  wherein said α-Al 2 O 3 -layer has a texture in the (012)-direction or (104)-direction. 
     
     
       3. The cutting tool insert of  claim 1  wherein Me is Ti or Zr. 
     
     
       4. The cutting tool insert of  claim 3  wherein the layer on the clearance face is TiN, ZrN, TiCN or TiC. 
     
     
       5. The cutting tool insert of  claim 1  wherein a fine-grained α-Al 2 O 3  layer is present between the body and the MeC x N y O z  layer on the clearance face. 
     
     
       6. The cutting tool insert of  claim 1  wherein the Al 2 O 3  thickness is 2-12 μm. 
     
     
       7. A method of making a cutting tool insert comprising a body of generally polygonal or round shape having an upper face, an opposite face and at least one clearance face intersecting said upper and lower faces to define a cutting edge, said body made of cemented carbide, titanium based carbonitride or ceramics comprising coating said insert at least partially with at least two refractory layers of which the next outermost is a fine-grained α-Al 2 O 3 -layer and a top MeC x N y O z -layer where Me is a metal selected from the group consisting of metals in the groups IVB, VB, VIB of the Periodic Table and (x+y+z)=1 and removing said top MeC x N y O z -layer at least  along the cutting edge-line and on the upper face, leaving said layer essentially untouched on the clearance face. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7  wherein said top layer is removed by brushing with a brush containing SiC or by blasting with Al 2 O 3 -grits. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 7  wherein said α-Al 2 O 3 -layer has a texture in the (012)-direction or (104)-direction. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 7  wherein Me is Ti or Zr. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10  wherein said MeC x N y O z -layer comprises TiN, ZrN, TiCN or TiC. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 7  wherein said α-Al 2 O 3 -layer thickness is 2-12 μm. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 7  wherein said α-Al 2   O   3 - layer has a texture in the  (   012   )- direction or  (   104   )- direction and wherein Me is Ti or Zr.    
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13  wherein the MeC x   N   y   O   z    layer is TiN, ZrN, TiCN or TiC.    
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14  wherein the Al 2   O   3    thickness is  2 - 12  μm.    
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 14  wherein said upper layer is removed by blasting with Al 2   O   3 -  grits.    
     
     
       17. The cutting tool insert of  claim 1  wherein said α- Al   2   O   3 - layer has a texture in the  (   012   )- direction or  (   104   )- direction and wherein Me is Ti or Zr.    
     
     
       18. The cutting tool insert of  claim 17  wherein the layer on the clearance face is TiN, ZrN, TiCN or TiC.  
     
     
       19. The cutting tool insert of  claim 18  wherein a fine- grained α - Al   2   O   3 - layer is present between the body and the MeC   x   N   y   O   z    layer on the clearance face.    
     
     
       20. The cutting tool insert of  claim 19  wherein the Al 2   O   3    thickness is  2 - 12  μm.    
     
     
       21. The cutting tool insert of  claim 1  wherein the Al 2   O   3 - layer is the top layer on substantially the whole upper face.    
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 7  wherein the MeC x   N   y   O   z - layer is removed from substantially the whole upper face.