Experiment on cutting performance of textured cemented carbide tools with various wettability levels

This study provides a novel way to research the drag friction of tools and shows significant potential in reducing tool wear and prolonging tool life. First, we fabricated amphiphobic micro-/nano-structures on the cemented carbide tool surface by a pulsed fiber laser. Various kinds of texture morphology could be obtained by controlling the laser parameters, including laser energy density ( D ), scanning speed ( V ), and the scanning number of the laser beam ( N ). Then, the contact angles (CA) were tested for the untextured, micro-textured, and micro-/nano-textured tools. The consequences indicated that the micro-/nano-textured tool showed the lowest wettability. The water contact angle (WCA) and oil contact angle (OCA) of it could, respectively, be achieved to 147 ± 3° and 135 ± 3°. Finally, cutting performance and anti-friction mechanism of textured cemented carbide tools with various wettability levels were experimentally investigated by cutting the 15-5PH stainless steel with solution treatment. The results indicated that in the state of minimal quantity of lubrication (MQL), the cutting force, the average friction coefficient on the rake face, and the cutting temperature could be reduced by the micro-/nano-texture with low wettability on the tool surface. Simultaneously, we analyzed the mechanism of formation of micro-/nano-bulge structures on the tool surface.