Fabrication of TiC-TiB ₂ composite ceramic tool and its cutting performance in turning austenitic stainless steel

New TiC-TiB2 ceramic cutting tool materials TiC-TiB2-Ni-Mo (TBNM8) and TiC-TiB2-Ni (TBN5) with high comprehensive mechanical properties were fabricated by hot pressed sintering with the optimised sintering processes. The cutting performance of TBNM8 in continuously turning austenitic stainless steel (1Cr18Ni9Ti) was experimentally investigated. With the optimal cutting parameters, the cutting performance of TBN5 and commercial tool LT55 were compared in wet and dry turning 1Cr18Ni9Ti. The failure mechanisms of the cutting tools were analysed combined with their high-temperature mechanical properties. The results showed that the tool life of TBN5 and TBNM8 was much longer in continuous dry turning 1Cr18Ni9Ti than that in wet turning, the possible reason was analysed as that the tool materials keeping high mechanical properties at elevated temperature, which led to the great improvement in machining efficiency and good characteristics of environmental friendliness because no cutting fluid was used during the cutting process.