Extreme Hardness Achievements in Binderless Cubic Boron Nitride Tools
Author
Editor
- John Ziegert
Summary, in English
Binderless cubic boron nitride tools are available in two forms: single phase cBN and dual phase wBN/cBN (w is
wurtzite phase). In this work, a novel heat treatment process involving surface heating using a continuous wave
CO2 laser followed by tandem waterjet quenching of the laser beam path was applied to increase the hardness of
both forms of boron nitride. Stress-induced phase transitions and nanometric grain sizes accompanying the rapid
quench heat treatment enabled a hardness increase of 20% in single phase cBN (nominal 60 GPa) and 100% in dual
phase wBN/cBN (nominal 75 GPa) that attest the ability of cBN to reach the hardness of polycrystalline diamond
(65-80 GPa). The effects of laser heat treatment are identified by an examination of the changes in phase and
microstructure by Raman spectroscopy, high resolution scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction.
wurtzite phase). In this work, a novel heat treatment process involving surface heating using a continuous wave
CO2 laser followed by tandem waterjet quenching of the laser beam path was applied to increase the hardness of
both forms of boron nitride. Stress-induced phase transitions and nanometric grain sizes accompanying the rapid
quench heat treatment enabled a hardness increase of 20% in single phase cBN (nominal 60 GPa) and 100% in dual
phase wBN/cBN (nominal 75 GPa) that attest the ability of cBN to reach the hardness of polycrystalline diamond
(65-80 GPa). The effects of laser heat treatment are identified by an examination of the changes in phase and
microstructure by Raman spectroscopy, high resolution scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction.
Department/s
Publishing year
2013
Language
English
Pages
449-457
Publication/Series
Transactions of the North American Manufacturing Research Institution of SME Volume 41, 2013
Document type
Conference paper
Topic
- Materials Engineering
Conference name
41-st SME North American Manufacturing Research Conference
Conference date
2013-06-10
Conference place
Madison, Wisconsin, United States
Status
Published
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISBN: 978-1-62748-697-2
- NAMRC41-1547