The Development of Advanced Coating Technologies for Cutting Tools for Difficult-to-machine Materials

Longyu Xiong

doi:10.62051/ijmee.v8n1.10

Authors

Longyu Xiong

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62051/ijmee.v8n1.10

Keywords:

Tool Coating Technology, Physical Vapor Deposition, Difficult-to-machine Materials

Abstract

With the rapid advancement of modern manufacturing toward high efficiency, precision, and sustainability, the extensive application of difficult-to-machine materials such as titanium alloys and carbon fiber reinforced composites in aerospace and other high-tech fields has imposed increasingly stringent demands on cutting tool performance. Coated tool technology, which involves depositing micro- to nano-scale functional thin films onto tool substrates, has emerged as a critical approach to enhance wear resistance, high-temperature durability, and service life of cutting tools. This paper focuses on Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) technologies, particularly arc ion plating, for tool coating fabrication. It systematically reviews recent research progress in transition metal nitride coatings s well as nanomultilayer coatings. Studies indicate that through compositional optimization and multilayer structural design, coatings can achieve a synergistic improvement in hardness, toughness, thermal stability, and oxidation resistance. These enhancements effectively reduce cutting friction and temperature, inhibit tool wear, and significantly improve performance and longevity in machining difficult-to-cut materials. Coating technology is evolving toward composite, nanostructured, and functionally graded designs, providing essential technical support to address future challenges in efficient and sustainable manufacturing.

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