EPSRC logo

Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/N02993/01
Title: AN ANALYTICAL ELECTRON MICROSCOPY STUDY OF PVD COATINGS MECHANISMS ON TOOL CUTTING EDGES AND CORNERS
Principal Investigator: Rodenburg, Professor JM
Other Investigators:
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department: Materials Research Institute
Organisation: Sheffield Hallam University
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 02 May 2000 Ends: 01 May 2003 Value (£): 53,238
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Materials Characterisation
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Aerospace, Defence and Marine Manufacturing
No relevance to Underpinning Sectors
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
Machining tools such as drill bits are now routinely coated in order to improve their wear and temperature resistance. High performance coatings, made of various combinations of metal nitrides, are grown by physical vapour deposition, which in part relies on the impact of accelerated ions onto the coating surface. It is known that macroscopic properties of such films (e.g. their colour) is changed at sharp edges and corners of coated structures. It is believed that this is due to the sharp features causing changes in the local electric field gradients used to accelerate ions during the coating growth. Clearly, the long term wear resistance of a coated tool must be principally determined by the quality and integrity of the coating at the cutting edge. Commercial coating processes are currently compromised by potential failings at sharp cutting edges. The aim of this project is to quantify such changes in coating integrity for the first time using analytical electron microscopy. Test shapes (edges and corners) will be coated in controlled conditions and changes in structure, morphology and stoichometry will be characterised.
Key Findings
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Potential use in non-academic contexts
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Impacts
Description This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Summary
Date Materialised
Sectors submitted by the Researcher
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Project URL:  
Further Information:  
Organisation Website: http://www.shu.ac.uk