J MATER REs TECHNOL.

2 0 2 0;9(4):9442–9456

Available online at

Original Article

Effects of cryogenic treatment types on the

performance of coated tungsten tools in the
turning of AISI H11 steel

Nursel Altan Özbek

Düzce University, CUMAyeri VOCATIONAL School of Higher EDUCATION, Düzce 81700, Turkey

A R T I C L E I N F O A B s T R A C T

Article history:
This study investigated the effects of the cryogenic treatment on cutting tool performance
Received 20 February 2020
in the turning of AISI H11 steel. In the experiments, TiCN/Al2O3/TiN-coated tungsten carbide
Accepted 10 March 2020 ◦
tools were used. Shallow cryogenic treatment was applied for 6 h at −80 C (SCT6), deep cryo-
Available online 5 May 2020 ◦ ◦
genic treatment at −196 C for 6 h (DCT6), and deep cryogenic treatment at −196 C for 24 h
(DCT24). Turning tests were conducted at three cutting speeds (200, 240, and 280 m/min),
Keywords: three feed rates (0.15, 0.18 and 0.21 mm/rev), and a 0.6-mm depth of cut under dry cut- ting
Shallow/deep cryogenic treatment conditions. Experimental results showed that the cryogenic treatment increased the abrasion
AISI H11 resistance of the cutting tool. The best cutting tool wear and surface roughness performance
Microhardness was obtained with the DCT24 tool. As a result of the tool life test, DCT24 tool wore 14.5% less
Tool wear than U tool. In terms of surface roughness, DCT24 tool improved up to 16.5% compared to the
Surface roughness U tool. Moreover, it was determined that the cryogenic treatment provided an increase in the
hardness of the cutting tools. The highest hardness increase also occurred in the DCT24 tool
(10.87%). In addition, cryogenic treatment types were optimized for flank wear and surface
roughness using the Taguchi method, and the effect levels of the cutting tools and cutting
parameters were determined via analysis of variance. According to ANOVA results, for flank
wear, the parameter having the most effect was the cutting speed, with an ratio of 56.811%,
while for surface roughness it was the feed rate, with 95.827%.
© 2020 The Author. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the
CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-
nd/4.0/).

1. Introduction
of optimal cutting speeds and feed rates, and application of
cutting tool coatings. Another method that has been used to
prolong the life of cutting tools in recent years is cryogenics
The search continues for effective cost strategies in manu- technology.
facturing and there is a constant need to reduce tool costs,
Cryogenics is an effective method of extending the service
especially to meet the budget requirements of machining
life of different cutting tools used in machining operations.
operations. Traditional approaches to cost reduction include
Cryogenics is a simple science that makes a significant
reducing tool expenditures and improving productivity by
change in the properties of materials at low temperatures.
developing more durable tool materials. Methods for extend-
Since the late 1930s, cold treatments have been reported as
ing cutting tool life include the use of cutting fluids, selection
having ben- eficial effects on tool performance [1,2].
Cryogenic treatment is a process that is complementary
to the conventional heat treatment used in recent years to
E-mail: nurselaltan@duzce.edu.tr
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmrt.2020.03.038
2238-7854/© 2020 The Author. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://
creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
 J MATER REs TECHNOL.
improve the properties of metals. After the conventional heat
treatment of tool steels, a soft phase is formed called ‘resid-
ual austenite’ that adversely affects the life of the product.
An effective way to remove the residual austenite phase is by
cryogenic treatment. In cryogenic treatment, the material is
maintained at the specified temperature for a defined hold-
ing time and then gradually reheated to room temperature.
Thus, the conversion of the residual austenite to marten-
site and the formation of secondary carbide precipitates in
the nucleation zones are achieved and high abrasion resis-
tance is obtained in the material [3–8]. Generally, two types
◦
of cryogenic treatments are used: shallow (between −50 C
and
◦ ◦ ◦
−100 C) and deep (between −125 C and −196 C) [9–11].
Cryo-
genic treatment is applicable for many of materials such as
alloys, metals, carbides, polymers, composites and ceramics
[2].
In a study on the machinability of C45 steel, Reddy et al.
[12] evaluated the cutting tool flank wear, main cutting
forces, and the surface quality of the workpiece. Carbide
◦
tools applied to deep cryogenic treatment at −176 C for 24 h
exhibited less flank wear and achieved better surface
roughness val- ues compared to untreated tools.
Experimental and statistical investigations were carried out
by Nas and Özbek [13] with deep cryogenically treated (24 h
◦ received/untreated; (2) quenching; (3) cryogenic treatment at
at −185 C) cutting tools in the turning of DIN 1.2344 steel.
Less flank wear was measured on the cutting tools and
surface roughness were lower with the cryogenically treated
tools. C¸ ic¸ek et al. [14] reported that the tool life of deep
cryogenically treated (24 h) M35 HSS drills was improved by
up to 218% in the drilling of AISI 316 steel, particularly at
high cutting speeds. Kursuncu et al. [15] exam- ined the
affects of cryogenic treatment on cutting tool coatings in the
milling of the Inconel 718 superalloy. A thin layer of
TiAiSiN/TiSiN/TiAlN nanocomposites was applied to cutting
◦
tools before cryogenic treatment at −145 C for 24 hours
with the aim of extending the tool life. Results showed that
both the coating and the cryogenic treatment were found to
pro- long tool life in the carbide cutting tools, with the
uncoated, nanocomposite TiAiSiN/TiSiN/TiAlN-, TiN- and
TiAlN-coated tools showing improvements of 54%, 29%,
110% and 30%, respectively. The hard Eta phase of the
carbide cutting tool microstructure increased by 18%.
Yong and Ding [16] applied deep cryogenic treatment
◦
(196 C) to WC-8 wt.% Co cemented carbide tools at holding
times of 2, 4, 8, 24, and 72 h and studied the mechanical
and magnetic property effects. They reported that the cryo-
genic application resulted in improved compression strength,
hardness, and fatigue resistance and wear, while no effect
was seen on the bending strength and toughness. The speci-
mens treated for 2 h exhibited the highest hardness and wear
resistance values. Özbek et al. [4] applied five different hold-
ing periods (12 h, 24 h, 36 h, 48 h, and 60 h) to determine the
optimum holding time for deep cryogenically treated carbide
tools in the turning of AISI 316 steel. Evaluations were car-
ried out in terms of hardness, the Eta-phase carbide zone,
and wear performance. As a result of the study, the highest
hard- ness and Eta-phase values and the best wear
performance were obtained with the 24-h cryogenically
treated tool, fol- lowed closely by the performance of the
12-h cryogenically
2 0 2 0;9(4):9442–9456 9443
treated tool. Kumar et al. [17] examined the liquid nitro-
gen treatment of M2 tool steels and evaluated the effect of
◦
different holding durations (12 h, 24 h, and 36 h at −196 C)
on the machining performance during turning operations.
The authors reported that the hardness of the AISI M2 tools
increased by approximately 65% after liquid nitrogen treat-
ment compared to untreated samples. Tools subjected to 24 h
of liquid nitrogen treatment exhibited better tool wear and
surface roughness performance in the turning of low carbon
steel. In the end milling of a titanium alloy (Ti6Al4V), C¸
elik et al. [18] studied the effects of different holding
durations (12 h, 24 h, and 36 h) on coated and uncoated end
◦
mills sub- jected to cryogenic treatment at −196 C. Results
showed that end mill wear mechanisms were responsible for
the breakage, wear, and flank chipping of the tools.
Moreover, results of the dry sliding tests and cutting force
evaluations revealed that as the time duration of the
treatment increased, the values for cutting and friction forces
decreased. It was concluded that in terms of performance,
the tools cryogenically treated for a period of 36 h
demonstrated the best cutting and friction force values and
tool wear conditions.
Seah et al. [19] evaluated the wear characteristics and tool
life of cutting tool inserts of cobalt-bonded tungsten carbide
that had been subjected for 24 h to different subzero thermal
applications. The six treatment applications included: (1) as
◦
196 C; (4) cryogenic treatment and tempering; (5) cold treat-
◦
ment at −80 C; and (6) cold treatment and tempering. They
reported that the last four treatment processes significantly
prolonged tool life and provided a high level of wear resis-
tance at high cutting speeds. Moreover, chipping resistance
was improved with all treatment types Gill et al. [20]
procured commercially available TiAlN-coated tungsten
carbide inserts and subjected them to cryogenic treatment
◦
independently at two temperature levels: −110 C (shallow
cryogenic treatment
◦
– 18 h) and −196 C (deep cryogenic treatment – 38 h).
Accord-
ing to the results obtained from the study, shallow cryogenic
treated tools performed better than others. Akıncıog˘ lu et
al. [21], in their study on the turning of Hastelloy C22 steel
◦ ◦
with shallow (−80 C) and deep (−145 C) cryogenically
treated and uncoated tungsten carbide tools, reported that
the deep cryo- genically treated tools performed better in
terms of both tool wear and surface roughness.
This study investigated the effects of cryogenic treatment
on coated tungsten carbide cutting tool performance in the
turning of AISI H11 hot work tool steel. To this purpose,
shal- low cryogenic treatment (SCT6) was applied at −80
◦
C for
◦
6 h, deep cryogenic treatment (DCT6) at −196 C for 6 h, and
◦
deep cryogenic treatment (DCT24) at −196 C for 24 h on cut-
ting tools coated with TiCN/Al 2O3/TiN via the CVD method.
Changes in cutting tool hardness, microstructure, and tool
wear as well as surface roughness were examined and the
effects of the cryogenic treatments on the cutting tools were
determined. In addition, the types of cryogenic processing
(SCT6, DCT6 and DCT24) were optimized for flank wear
(Vb) and surface roughness (Ra) using the Taguchi Method,
and the effect levels of the cutting tool and cutting
parameters were determined via analysis of variance
(ANOVA).
9444 J MATER REs TECHNOL. 2 0 2 0;9(4):9442–9456

Table 1 – Chemical composition of AISI H11 steel.

Element C C Mn Mo S P S V
r i
(%) 0 4 0.37 1.29 0 0. 0. 0.41
. . . 02 00
3 9 9 4 4
7 3 7

The tungsten carbide cutting tools (TiCN/Al2O3/TiN

Fig. 1 – Details of cryogenic treatment.
2. Material and methods
The chemical composition of the AISI H11 hot work tool
steel used in this study is given in Table 1. The AISI H11
steel was supplied in dimensions of ø100 × 250 mm for
the experiments. The AISI H11 steel with a rough hardness
of 219 HB was sub- jected to nitrogen hardening at 1050
◦ ◦
C for 60 min followed by triple tempering, first at 560 C
◦ ◦
for 4 h, and then by 4 h at 570 C and 3 h at 640 C. At the
end of these treatments, the hardness value of the AISI
H11 steel had reached 35 HRC.
coated TT 8125) used in the experiments were obtained from
TaeguTec (SNMG 120404-FG insert geometry). The cutting
tools were subjected to shallow cryogenic treatment (SCT6)
for 6 h at
◦ ◦
−80 C, deep cryogenic treatment (DCT6) for 6 h at −196 C,
◦
and deep cryogenic treatment for 24 h at −196 C (DCT24).
After these processes, the cutting tools were tempered for
2 h at
◦
200 C (Fig. 1).
The flowchart in Fig. 2 illustrates the procedures fol-
lowed for the experiments in the current study. Sepa-
rate experimental trials were conducted for all cutting
tools.
The tungsten carbide inserts were etched with 10 wt.%
aqueous solutions of Murakami’s solution (K 3Fe(CN)6 and
KaOH) at room temperature and were then immediately
flushed with water and dried, after which the micrographs
were taken. Microhardness measurements of the cutting tools
used in the study were performed on the METKON
DUROLINE- M device. During the measurements, a load of
1000 g was applied for 30 s.
Experiments were conducted on an ACCUWAY JT 150
model CNC lathe at a cutting depth of 0.6 mm using the
param- eters given in Table 2. The flank wear (Vb) of the
cutting tool was determined using a professional digital
microscope (DinoCapture 2.0). The average surface
roughness (Ra) of the workpiece was measured using a
Taylor Hobson portable surface roughness machine. Three
measurements were
Fig. 2 – Flowchart for experimental procedures.
 J MATER REs TECHNOL.
Table 2 – Turning parameters used in the study.
Parameters Symbol
Cryogenic treatment A S
types Feed rate
(mm/rev) Cutting
B
speed (m/min)
performed for each surface, and the average of these values was
taken.
3. Results and discussion
3.1. Microstructural observations
The following phases are generally present in the metallo-
graphic microstructure of tungsten carbides [12,19]:
(a) a phase: tungsten carbide (WC)
(b) þ phase: cobalt binder
(c) μ phase: mixed cubic lattice-structured carbides (TiC, TaC
ve NbC Vb.)
(d) μ phase: multiple complex carbides (Co3W3C (M6C),
Co6W6C (M12C)).
Microstructure photographs of the carbide cutting tools
are given in Figs. 3 and 4. An energy-dispersive X-ray
spectroscopy (EDS) analysis was performed to detect a and
μ phases in the microstructure of the tungsten carbide tools
(Fig. 3). In the microstructure photographs, the gray angular-
shaped beads containing a majority of tungsten carbide
particles are the a phase. The EDS 1 analysis in Fig. 3 shows
that these angular- shaped grains contain 93.72% W and
6.28% C. The þ phase is seen in the areas where there are a
small number of white veins. The μ phase is the type of
carbide coated by cobalt, which appears as dark gray flecks.
The EDS 2 analysis shows the μ phase as having 59.76% W, 3.3.
34.87% Co, and 4.22% C. The cobalt-bonded carbides have
two eta phases: (Co 3W3)C and (Co6W6)C. During the
(Co 3W3)C phase sintering process, the liquid grows and
nucleates due to the continuous dissolution of the tungsten
carbide in the cobalt. During the cryogenic treatment, coarse less worn than the untreated tools. This can be attributed to
and randomly distributed μ phase parti- cles become
narrower in their most stable form. Along with larger
tungsten carbide particles, these finer particles take the form precipitation of secondary carbides and the homogeneous
of a denser, more harmonious and much more durable
matrix. The μ phase carbides provide an increase in hardness
and wear resistance in cryogenically treated tools without
affecting toughness. Fig. 4 shows the microstructure images
of all cutting tools taken at 10,000× magnification. In the
pho- tographs, the a phase, þ phase, and μ phase are
indicated by arrows. It is seen that the μ phase carbides are conditions were less worn. In the previous studies men-
in a more homogeneous distribution in cryogenic treated
tools. On the other hand, the a phase distribution in
cryogenic treated tools is more homogeneous and smaller in
size compared to the untreated tool.
2 0 2 0;9(4):9442–9456 9445
Lev
els
1 2 3
D DC
C C T24
T T6 0.2
6 0. 1
3.2. Microhardness observations
Seah et al. reported in their studies that the cryogenic treat-
ment on carbide inserts did not provide any hardness
increase [19]. However, Moore and Collins argued that the
effect of hold- ing time on hardness depends on the chemical
composition of the steels [22]. According to Collins, the
precipitation of fine carbides throughout the cryogenic
treatment cycle causes an increase in tool toughness and
wear resistance, and also a lit- tle increase in tool hardness
[23]. Thakur et al. also reported that even a minor cryogenic
treatment increased the micro- hardness of the carbide inserts
[24]. Gill et al. observed an increase of 5% hardness in
carbide inserts [25]. Özbek et al. reported a 6% hardness
increase in uncoated tungsten car- bide tools [5]. Similarly, as
a result of the cryogenic treatment applied in this study, it
was observed that some hardness increase was achieved in
the tungsten carbide cutting tools. A graph showing the
microhardness measurement results of the coated tungsten
carbide cutting tools with and without cryogenic treatment is
given in Fig. 5. When the graphic is analyzed, it is seen that
all the tools that had been subjected to cryogenic treatment
exhibited higher hardness than the untreated tools. This is
thought to have resulted from the sec- ondary carbide
precipitation in the cutting tool microstructure provided by
the cryogenic treatment. The highest hardness increase
(10.87%) was in the DCT24 tool. In the DCT6 and SCT6 tools,
the increase of hardness observed was 8.8% and 3.4%,
respectively.
Flank wear and SEM photographs
Fig. 6 shows the change in cutting tool flank wear depend-
ing on cutting parameters. Under all cutting conditions, the
tools that had been subjected to cryogenic treatment were
the improved wear resistance resulting from the increased
hardness and to the improved microstructure due to the
car- bide distribution [4,5,12]. In general, the DCT24 tool
exhibited the best wear performance, followed closely by the
wear per- formance of the DCT6 tool.
Among the tungsten carbide tools subjected to shallow
and deep cryogenic treatment, those that had undergone the
deep cryogenic treatment (DCT6) for 6 h under most cutting
tioned earlier, one reported that shallow cryogenic treated
coated carbide inserts performed significantly better com-
pared with deep cryogenic treated and untreated inserts [20],
while another found that deep cryogenic treated tools gave
9446 J MATER REs TECHNOL. 2 0 2 0;9(4):9442–9456

Fig. 3 – EDS analysis of the phases in the microstructure.

better results in terms of both surface roughness and tool In general, the flank wear on the cutting tools increased
wear [21]. with increasing cutting speed. Higher cutting speeds, leading
On the other hand, Akhbarizadeh et al. [9], in their study to more tool wear. Because higher cutting speed increases the
of cryogenic treatment (shallow cryogenic treatment at −63
◦ ◦
cutting zone temperature and causes rapid plastic deforma-
C and deep cryogenic treatment at −185 C) on the wear tion. [27,28].
behav- ior of D6 tool steel, found that deep cryogenic In Fig. 7, a wear graph is given for 0.18 mm/rev feed rate
treatment
and 280 m/min cutting speed. With the increased chip vol-
provided more wear resistance. Similarly, Senthilkumar and
ume, the amount of flank wear for all tools also increased.
Rajendran [26] investigated the effects of cryogenic treatment
The most wear was seen on the untreated tools at the end
on the wear resistance of En 19 steel, and at the end of
◦ of the metal removal at a volume of 32400 mm3. All cryogeni-
the study reported that deep cryogenic treatment (−196 C)
cally treated tools were less worn compared to the untreated
improved wear resistance more than shallow cryogenic
tools. Tools subjected to deep cryogenic treatment showed
◦
treatment (−80 C).
 J MATER REs TECHNOL.
Fig. 4 – Microstructure images of the cutting tools (10,000×): (a) U; (b) SCT6; (c) DCT6; (d) DCT24.
Fig. 5 – Microhardness values of cutting tools.
better wear performance than the shallow cryogenically
treated tools. The DCT24 tool showed the best wear per-
formance at the end of the removal of a chip volume of
3 thought to be related to the lower degree of wear on the cryo-
32400 mm .
The SEM photographs of the worn surfaces of the cut-
ting tools are given in Figs. 8–11. The SEM images show that
as a result of chip removal, the abrasive wear mechanism
caused flank wear and nose wear in all tools, regardless of
heat treatment type. In addition, built-up edge (BUE) formed
by the adhesive wear mechanism was observed on the cut-
ting edges of all tools. The elements Fe, C, Mn, Cr, Si, V, and S
determined by EDS analysis are the elements in the chemical
2 0 2 0;9(4):9442–9456 9447
composition of the AISI H11 workpiece material, and thus
originated from this source. Consequently, BUE formations
were revealed by the EDS analysis. On the other hand, the
TiN (upper) layer was removed because of wear, exposing
the Al2O3 layer underneath, seen as white points in the EDS
analysis as proof of this situation.
Fig. 8 shows that a fracture occurred on the cutting edge
of the untreated tool; however, this fracture did not occur in
the cryogenically treated tools. This was associated with the
increase in the wear resistance and hardness provided by the
cryogenic treatment.
3.4. Surface roughness
An examination of the surface roughness changes shows that
lower surface roughness values were obtained with all tools
that had been subjected to cryogenic treatment regardless of
holding temperature and duration (Fig. 12). This situation is
genically treated tools, as seen in Fig. 6. The lowest surface
roughness values were obtained with tools having had deep
cryogenic treatment for 24 h. When the tools shallow and
deep cryogenically treated for 6 h were evaluated together, in
gen- eral, better surface roughness values resulted with the
deep cryogenically treated tools.
The best surface roughness values were acquired at feed
rate of 0.15 mm/rev, while the surface roughness values
9448 J MATER REs TECHNOL.
Fig. 6 – Effect of cutting parameters on flank wear: (a) 0.15 mm/rev; (b) 0.18 mm/rev; (c) 0.21 mm/rev.
Fig. 7 – Wear graph based on chip volume.
rose with increasing feed rates. The rising Ra values with
increasing feed rates can be attributed to the cutting
force effect. The reduced cutting forces resulting from a
decrease in feed rate [29] bring about a reduced amount
of vibration and provide better surface roughness [30].
However, increases in feed rate generATED HELICOIDAL furrows
caused by the resul- tant tool SHAPE AND tool-workpiece helicoid
movement. The furrows became deeper and wider with
increasing feed rate [31]. This was another cause of the
increase in Ra.
Although the cutting speed did not have a signif-
icant effect on the surface roughness, in general, the
2 0 2 0;9(4):9442–9456
surface roughness was improved with increased cutting
speed.
3.5. Signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio
The flank wear (Vb) and surface roughness (Ra) values and
S/N ratios obtained in the turning experiments performed
accord- ing to the Taguchi L27 design on the hardened
AISI H11 hot work tool steel are shown in Table 3.
Regarding the optimal performance characteristics (Vb
and Ra) of the control factors and their levels, the most
effective of these factors was deter- mined using the S/N
response table generated via the Taguchi method. Control
factor effects on Vb and Ra are shown in the
S/N response table presented in Table 4. Table 4 shows that
feed rate was the most effective factor on flank wear and cut-
ting speed was the most effective factor on surface roughness.
The control factor effects on the S/N values are shown in the
graphs in Figs. 13 and 14. The greatest S/N values, as in the
S/N response table, depict the optimum level for that param-
eter. In turning the hardened AISI H11 steel, optimum
cutting parameters for the lowest values of Vb were
determined as the 3rd level of cryogenic treatment types
(A3), the 1st level of feed rates (B1), and the 1st level of
cutting speeds (C1) (Fig. 13). Thus, for the lowest Vb values,
the optimum values for the cryogenic treatment type, feed
rate and cutting speed were found to be DCT24, 0.15 mm/rev,
and 200 m/min, respectively. The optimum cutting
parameters for the lowest values of Ra
J MATER REs TECHNOL. 2 0 2 0;9(4):9442–9456 9449

Fig. 8 – SEM image of U tool and EDS analysys

J MATER REs TECHNOL. 2 0 2 0;9(4):9442–9456 9453

Fig. 12 – Effect of cutting parameters on average surface roughness: (a) 0.15 mm/rev; (b) 0.18 mm/rev; (c) 0.21 mm/rev.

Table 3 – S/N ratios and experimental results.

Exp. no Control factors Flank wear, Vb (mm) S/N ratio for Vb (dB) Surface roughness, Ra (µm) S/N ratio for Ra (dB)

A B C

1 SCT6 0.1 20 0.089 21.0122 1.833333 −5.2648

5 0
2 SCT6 0.1 24 0.093 20.6303 1.75 −4.8608
5 0
3 SCT6 0.1 28 0.099 20.0873 1.766667 −4.9431
5 0
4 SCT6 0.1 20 0.094 20.5374 2.513333 −8.0050
8 0
5 SCT6 0.1 24 0.098 20.1755 2.38 −7.5315
8 0
6 SCT6 0.1 28 0.104 19.6593 2.4 −7.6042
8 0
7 SCT6 0.2 20 0.094 20.5374 3.366667 −10.5440
1 0
8 SCT6 0.2 24 0.1 20.0000 3.22 −10.1571
1 0
9 SCT6 0.2 28 0.11 19.1721 3.206667 −10.1211
1 0
10 DCT6 0.1 20 0.087 21.2096 1.733333 −4.7776
5 0
11 DCT6 0.1 24 0.09 20.9151 1.72 −4.7106
5 0
12 DCT6 0.1 28 0.098 20.1755 1.713333 −4.6768
5 0
13 DCT6 0.1 20 0.091 20.8192 2.366667 −7.4827
8 0
14 DCT6 0.1 24 0.091 20.8192 2.326667 −7.3347
8 0
15 DCT6 0.1 28 0.105 19.5762 2.313333 −7.2848
8 0
16 DCT6 0.2 20 0.091 20.8192 3.666667 −11.2854
1 0
17 DCT6 0.2 24 0.094 20.5374 3.346667 −10.4923
1 0
18 DCT6 0.2 28 0.103 19.7433 3.233333 −10.1930
1 0
19 DCT2 0.1 20 0.077 22.2702 1.66 −4.4022
4 5 0
20 DCT2 0.1 24 0.084 21.5144 1.613333 −4.1545
4 5 0
21 DCT2 0.1 28 0.093 20.6303 1.606667 −4.1185
4 5 0
22 DCT2 0.1 20 0.089 21.0122 2.273333 −7.1333
4 8 0
23 DCT2 0.1 24 0.095 20.4455 2.2 −6.8485
4 8 0
24 DCT2 0.1 28 0.102 19.8280 2.086667 −6.3891
4 8 0
25 DCT2 0.2 20 0.09 20.9151 3.146667 −9.9570
4 1 0
26 DCT2 0.2 24 0.091 20.8192 3.033333 −9.6384
4 1 0
27 DCT2 0.2 28 0.101 19.9136 3.026667 −9.6193
4 1 0
9454 J MATER REs TECHNOL. 2 0 2 0;9(4):9442–9456

Table 4 – S/N response table.

Vb Ra (µm)

(mm) Cryoge Feed rate Cutting speed (m/min) Lev Cryogeni Feed rate Cutting spee
nic type (mm/rev) C el c type (mm/rev) (m/min) d
Level treatme s B treatmen s B
nt t C
A A
1 20.20 20.94 21.01 1 2.493 1.711 2.507
2 20.51 20.32 20.65 2 2.491 2.318 2.399
3 20.82 20.27 19.87 3 2.294 3.250 2.373
Delta 0.62 0.67 1.15 Delt 0.199 1.539 0.134
a
Rank 3 2 1 Ran 2 1 3
k

Fig. 13 – S/N ratio effects plot for flank wear.

Fig. 14 – S/N ratio effects plot for surface roughness.

were determined as the 3rd level of cryogenic treatment types with 14.725%. The
(A3), the 1st level of feed rates (B1), and the 3rd level of cut-
ting speeds (C3) (Fig. 14). Thus, for the lowest Ra values, the
optimum values for the cryogenic treatment type, feed rate,
and cutting speed were found to be DCT24, 0.15 mm/rev, and
280 m/min, respectively.

1.1. Variance analysis (ANOVA)

The interactions between the control factors used in the exper-

imental design (cryogenic treatment types, feed rates and
cutting speeds) and their impact on performance characteris-
tics were determined statistically via ANOVA, and the results
for their effects on Vb and Ra are given in Table 5. The
ANOVA was performed at a confidence level of 95% and a
significance level of 5%. The table shows the F values and
percent of effect ratios indicating the significance level of each
variable. Vari- ance analysis results of this study showed that
for flank wear, the cutting speed (Factor C) was the most
effective parameter, with an impact ratio of 56.811%. The least
effective parame- ter was cryogenic treatment type (Factor A)
most effective parameter on surface roughness was the feed
rate (Factor B) at 95.827%, and the parameter having the
least effect on surface roughness was cutting speed (Factor
C), at 0.805%.

1.2. Confirmation tests

Using the Taguchi method, this experimental study deter-

mined the optimum cutting parameters for the lowest flank
wear and surface roughness values, and ANOVA was con-
ducted to establish the effect levels of the cutting parameters
on flank wear and surface roughness. As a result of the
Taguchi optimization, parameters A3B1C1 (the DCT24
cryogenic treat- ment types, 0.15 mm/rev feed rate, and 200
m/min cutting speed) were found to give the lowest Vb
value and parame- ters A3B1C3 (the DCT24 cryogenic
treatment type, 0.15 mm/rev feed rate, and 280 m/min
cutting speed) were found to give the lowest Ra values. Eqs.
(1) and (2) were used to calculate the values of Vb and Ra
for these optimum cutting parameters.

Vbcal = TVb + (A2 − TVb) + (B1 − TVb) + (C2 − TVb) (1)

J MATER REs TECHNOL. 2 0 2 0;9(4):9442–9456 9455

Table 5 – ANOVA results for Vb and Ra.

Variance source Degree of freedom (DoF) Sum of squares (SS) Mean square (MS) F ratio Contribution rate

Vb
A 2 0.0001936 0.0000968 20.89 14.725
B 2 0.0002816 0.0001408 30.38 21.419
C 2 0.0007469 0.0003734 80.60 56.811
Error 20 0.0000927 0.0000046 7.051
Total 26 0.0013147 100%

Ra
A 2 0.2352 0.1176 16.22 2.083
B 2 10.8151 5.4075 746.19 95.827
C 2 0.0909 0.0454 6.27 0.805
Error 20 0.1449 0.0072 1.283
Total 26 11.2860 100%

◦
Table 6 – Predicted values and confirmation test tools with deep cryogenic treatment applied at −196 C for 24
results by Taguchi method. h.
• The deep cryogenically treated tools achieved better results in
Optimum level Exp. Pred. Error (%)
terms of wear and surface roughness, although a close
Vb (mm) performance was achieved with both 6-h shallow and 6-h
A3B1C1 0.077 0.0813 8.18
deep cryogenic treatments.
Ra (µm) • Generally, with increasing cutting speed, flank wear on the
A3B1C3 1.6066 1.5253 5.1 cutting tools increased. Wear also increased with increasing
chip volume.
• All tools displayed flank wear caused by the abrasive wear
Racal = TRa + (A2 − TRa) + (B1 − TRa) + (C2 − TRa) (2) mechanism and built-up edge caused by the adhesive wear
mechanism. Fractures occurred on the cutting edge of the
Using these equations, the optimum estimated value for flank untreated tools, but not on the cryogenically treated tools.
wear was calculated as 0.0813 mm with an S/N ratio of 21.7492, • The cryogenically treated tools showed better surface
and the value for surface roughness was 1.5253 µm with an S/N roughness values than the untreated tools. The lowest sur-
ratio of −4.0110 (Table 6). As a result of the turning process face roughness was obtained with the tools subjected to
using parameters A3B1C1, the flank wear was found to be 0.077 deep cryogenic treatment for 24 h.
mm with an S/N ratio of 22.2702. Using the A3B1C3 parameters, • Based on the S/N ratios, it was concluded that the
the surface roughness was found to be 1.6066 µm with an S/N A3B1C1 (cryogenic treatment type = DCT24, feed rate =
ratio of −4.1185. The estimated values were quite close to the 0.15 mm/rev, cutting speed = 200 m/min) settings were
experimental results. the optimal pro- cess parameters for flank wear and the
A3B1C3 (cryogenic treatment type = DCT24, feed rate =
0.15 mm/rev, cutting speed = 280 m/min) settings were
2. Conclusions
the optimal process parameters for surface roughness.
• According to ANOVA results, for flank wear, the
In this study, the effects of cryogenic treatment on cutting tool
parameter having the most effect was the cutting speed
wear and surface roughness were investigated in the turning of
(Factor C), with
AISI H11 hot work tool steel. The TiCN/Al2O3/TiN-coated
an impact ratio of 56.811%, while for surface roughness it was
tungsten carbide cutting tools were subjected to shallow cryo-
the feed rate (Factor B), with 95.827%.
◦
genic treatment at −80 C for 6 h, deep cryogenic treatment at
◦ ◦
−196 C for 6 h, and deep cryogenic treatment at −196 C for
24 h. The results obtained are as follows:
Acknowledgement
• Regardless of the holding time and temperature, the cryo-
This study was supported by the Düzce University Research
genic treatment increased the hardness of the cutting tools.
The highest hardness increase (10.87%) occurred in the Fund (BAP-2016.22.01.435).
◦
tools with deep cryogenic treatment applied at −196 C for
24 h. Hardness increased by 8.8% in the tools with deep R E F E R E N C E s
◦
cryogenic treatment applied at −196 C for 6 h, and by
3.4% for the tools that had shallow cryogenic treatment
◦
applied at −80 C for 6 h. [1] Paulin P. Frozen gears. Gear Technol 1993:26–9.
[2] Kalia S. Cryogenic processing: a study of materials at
• Cryogenic treatment increased the wear resistance of
low temperatures. J Low Temp Phys 2010;158:934–45.
the TiCN/Al2O3/TiN-coated tungsten carbide cutting tools. [3] Gill SS, Rupinder Singh R, Singh H, Singh J. Wear behaviour
All cryogenically treated tools were less worn than the of cryogenically treated tungsten carbide inserts under dry
untreated tools. The best wear performance was seen in and wet turning conditions. Int J Mach Tools Manuf
the 2009;49:256–60.
9456 J MATER REs TECHNOL. 2 0 2 0;9(4):9442–9456