Granulation of Extruded Plastic Wires: Influence of Tool Coating properties and Tool Geometry on Cutting Forces and Tool Wear

摘要

Granulators are widely used to reduce reinforced and unreinforced plastic strands in small pieces. The tools implemented in this machining process are mainly made of high-speed steel. This work investigates diverse PVD hard thin coatings with the aim of improving tool life and efficiency in granulation technology. A test facility reproducing the main features of a real granulator has been designed and assembled. The machined strand materials are ABS plastic and fibreglass-reinforced polyamide 6, while the tested PVD films are CrN, TiCN, TiAlN and two different diamond-like carbon coatings. The wear evaluation of all coated tools has been done via structured light projection, together with a scanning electron microscopy-based analysis, before and after their implementation on the test facility. Furthermore, a suitable 2D finite element modelling of the machining process has been realized.