Thermal influence of cutting tool coatings

Abstract
The paper deals with the qualification of the thermal behaviour of the system "work material - coated carbide cutting tool - chip", with the purpose of reaching a better understanding of the heat flow entering into the tool substrate during a turning operation. Heat transfer in deposit-substrate system was analysed by basing on a simple geometry example. A model of heat transfer in the cutting tool has been proposed. Results show that coating's thermal barrier role does not exist in continuous cutting operations, but that it is significant in discontinuous cutting operations especially with high speed cutting conditions.