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Kirkendall pore formation within WC-Co tool inserts during the machining of titanium alloys

Graves, Alexander ; Lindvall, Rebecka LU ; Botermans, Cornelis ; Jackson, Martin ; Bushlya, Volodymyr LU and Norgren, Susanne LU (2025) In Metallurgical Research and Technology 122(6).
Abstract

Recent research has indicated that machining of titanium alloys with uncoated cemented tungsten carbide tools fulfil the criteria for Kirkendall porosity. If this occurs during machining, it could contribute to the type and rate of tool wear, compromising the tools structural integrity close to the edge line within the contact zone. In this study, voids were observed at the tool-workpiece contact zone close to the cutting edge of worn milling inserts, generated due to the 10 000 times higher outward diffusion of Co into Ti than Ti into Co. To investigate the nature of the Kirkendall diffusion process, diffusion couples between titanium alloys and WC-6Co at pressures between 0 to 2.5GPa and temperatures between 800 and 1200°C were made... (More)

Recent research has indicated that machining of titanium alloys with uncoated cemented tungsten carbide tools fulfil the criteria for Kirkendall porosity. If this occurs during machining, it could contribute to the type and rate of tool wear, compromising the tools structural integrity close to the edge line within the contact zone. In this study, voids were observed at the tool-workpiece contact zone close to the cutting edge of worn milling inserts, generated due to the 10 000 times higher outward diffusion of Co into Ti than Ti into Co. To investigate the nature of the Kirkendall diffusion process, diffusion couples between titanium alloys and WC-6Co at pressures between 0 to 2.5GPa and temperatures between 800 and 1200°C were made and analysed. Porosity was found in the 1200°C Ti-6Al-4V/WC-6Co 2.5GPa and 1000°C Ti-5Al-5Mo-5V-3Cr/WC-6Co 35MPa samples in addition to the inserts. These findings highlight the need for further research into porosity-driven wear mechanisms to improve the cemented carbide tools for machining titanium alloys.

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author
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Diffusion, Machining, Porosity, Titanium, WC-Co, Wear
in
Metallurgical Research and Technology
volume
122
issue
6
article number
608
publisher
EDP Sciences
external identifiers
  • scopus:105018071157
ISSN
2271-3646
DOI
10.1051/metal/2025080
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
9a8c270d-5681-4d07-a8c9-d91f0ebe011e
date added to LUP
2025-10-20 11:19:25
date last changed
2025-10-23 14:30:38
@article{9a8c270d-5681-4d07-a8c9-d91f0ebe011e,
  abstract     = {{<p>Recent research has indicated that machining of titanium alloys with uncoated cemented tungsten carbide tools fulfil the criteria for Kirkendall porosity. If this occurs during machining, it could contribute to the type and rate of tool wear, compromising the tools structural integrity close to the edge line within the contact zone. In this study, voids were observed at the tool-workpiece contact zone close to the cutting edge of worn milling inserts, generated due to the 10 000 times higher outward diffusion of Co into Ti than Ti into Co. To investigate the nature of the Kirkendall diffusion process, diffusion couples between titanium alloys and WC-6Co at pressures between 0 to 2.5GPa and temperatures between 800 and 1200°C were made and analysed. Porosity was found in the 1200°C Ti-6Al-4V/WC-6Co 2.5GPa and 1000°C Ti-5Al-5Mo-5V-3Cr/WC-6Co 35MPa samples in addition to the inserts. These findings highlight the need for further research into porosity-driven wear mechanisms to improve the cemented carbide tools for machining titanium alloys.</p>}},
  author       = {{Graves, Alexander and Lindvall, Rebecka and Botermans, Cornelis and Jackson, Martin and Bushlya, Volodymyr and Norgren, Susanne}},
  issn         = {{2271-3646}},
  keywords     = {{Diffusion; Machining; Porosity; Titanium; WC-Co; Wear}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{6}},
  publisher    = {{EDP Sciences}},
  series       = {{Metallurgical Research and Technology}},
  title        = {{Kirkendall pore formation within WC-Co tool inserts during the machining of titanium alloys}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/metal/2025080}},
  doi          = {{10.1051/metal/2025080}},
  volume       = {{122}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}