METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IMPROVING THE SURFACE FRACTURE TOUGHNESS OF BRITTLE MATERIALS, AND A CUTTING TOOL PRODUCED BY SUCH METHOD

摘要

This invention concerns a method of improving the wear resistance of a cemented carbide. The method includes using fracture toughness as a selection criterion and selecting a cemented carbide which has a fracture toughness between about 6 and about 15 MPa·m1/2. The method further includes applying a sacrificial coating to the cemented carbide and increasing the fracture toughness of the cemented carbide by creating a toughened surface layer using laser shock peening, thereby increasing its fracture resistance to fatigue and stress corrosion cracking. The invention also concerns a cutting tool or a cutting tool insert made from a cemented carbide and treated using the method according to the invention.