PROBING CRYSTALINE PHASES IN CUBIC BORON NITRIDE AS A FUNCTION OF BORON CONTENT BY MASSIVE NANOINDENTATION AND MICROSAMPLE TESTING

摘要

Polycrystalline cubic boron nitride (cBN) is a super-hard multiphase composite is extensively used in highly demanding applications, where improved and consistent performances together with high reliability are required. The remarkable mechanical properties of these materials result from a two-fold effectiveness associated with its composite character. On the one hand in terms of composite nature: combination of a brittle cBN particles and a ceramic TiN binder with optimal interface properties, as given by a very low interfacial energy and very good adhesion between cBN and TiN.