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DLC has been applied as coating material in the machining of difficult-to-cut materials, and shows a good cutting performance. In this study, Cr/W-DLC/DLC-coated tools were compared with other three kinds of coated tools (TiC-, TiAlN-, Al2O3-) to investigate the cutting performance in the machining of Al–Si alloy. The influence of Cr/W-DLC/DLC-coated tools on the cutting performance under different cutting speeds was studied. Cutting force, cutting temperature, heat partition coefficient, cutting deformation rate, plastic deformation of machined surface, the interface temperature, and stress were investigated numerically with the aid of finite element method (FEM). Actual cutting experiments were carried out to verify the FEM models by means of the cutting force and cutting temperature measurement. The investigation results show that Cr/W-DLC/DLC-coated tool had the best cutting performance among these four kinds of coated tools. With the increasing of cutting speeds, cutting force and cutting temperature showed an increase trend, while the plastic deformation depth of machined surface and heat partition into cutting tool all showed a decrease trend during the machining with Cr/W-DLC/DLC-coated tool. This investigation can provide the theory basis or technical guidance for the cutting practice with Cr/W-DLC/DLC-coated tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diamond-like carbon (DLC)-coated tools are suitable for the machining of various aluminum alloys, graphite, and other non-ferrous metals. The shortcomings of DLC-coated tools such as high internal residual stress, low toughness, and poor adhesion strength limit their application. In order to reveal the mechanical and cutting performance of DLC-coated tools, a DLC monolayer coating, Cr/CrN/DLC composite coating, and Cr/W-DLC/DLC composite coating had been prepared on the cemented carbide cutting tools. The influences of transition interlayer on the microstructure and mechanical properties of DLC coatings were analyzed. Tool lives, wear mechanism, and machined surface roughness obtained with uncoated cemented carbide tool, DLC monolayer–coated tool, and Cr/x/DLC-coated tool during the machining of Al-Si alloys were investigated. Compared with DLC monolayer coating, the strength ratio (ID/IG) of the DLC composite coatings with Cr/x transition structure was improved, while the sp3 covalent bond contents was decreased. The results show that the adhesion strength and toughness of the Cr/x/DLC composite coating were enhanced, and the residual stress was greatly reduced. The cutting tests further indicate that the DLC coating significantly improved the tool life. Based on comprehensive evaluation, the Cr/W-DLC/DLC composite coating has the highest adhesion, highest toughness, the lowest residual stress, and the longest tool life, and it is suitable for the machining of non-ferrous metal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]