Durability of Cutting Tools Obtained by U-FAST Technology in Particleboard Machining

The basic material used for tools for machining wood and wood-based materials is WC-Co (Tungsten Carbide with Cobalt)-cemented carbide. The advantages of WC-Co carbides are significant resistance to high temperatures, high hardness, and wear resistance. Wood-based materials, such as particleboard, are particularly difficult to machine due to their considerable inhomogeneity and the presence of various types of hard particle inclusions, such as sand. In addition, unlike metals, wood has a low thermal conductivity, which means that most of the heat generated during milling is transferred to the tool. The consequence of this phenomenon is an increased tool temperature. In addition, the use of a coolant is not possible when machining wood-based materials. The durability of carbide blades is mainly influenced by grain size and cobalt content. When analysing WC-Co as a tool material, it is necessary to consider how it is obtained, as this can also significantly affect its properties. This paper presents the results of a durability study of cutting blades produced by the innovative Upgraded Field-Assisted Sintering Technology (U-FAST) sintering method during particleboard milling. The wear of the blades was measured until the wear value, i.e., the maximum loss at the contact surface VB_max, was 0.2 mm. Three groups of WC-Co carbides with different WC grain sizes were tested: 0.1, 0.4, and 0.8 µm. Three rotational speeds were used: 12,000, 15,000, and 18,000 rpm. In the machinability tests, blades with a WC grain size of 0.8 µm showed a twofold increase in tool life compared to commercial blades with a similar grain size gradation.