Coating High Speed Steel Using Green Technique

A carbon nanotube (CNT) is a carbon allotrope, intermediate between fullerene and flat Graphene sheets. It¿s structure consisting of carbon atoms arranged in one or more cylindrical layers, joined by covalent bonds in a hexagonal pattern which forms a hollow tube. Due to this structure, CNTs provide a very high tensile strength, wear resistance, thermal conductivity, a low thermal expansion coefficient and a low friction co-efficient. The properties mentioned herewith makes CNT as a promising coating material, which can be used for cutting tool application. In this project work, CNT based coating applied on HSS cutting tool using Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD: Sputtering process), which is considered as a green coating technique. During the experimental work, the effect of various process parameters like, coating thickness, sputtering gas, gas flow rate, sputtering power etc. are addressed. To check the effect of coating on cutting force, wear resistance, tool life and ultimately productivity, few Mechanical and Tribological tests has been done.