Influences of iron riched phases on the flank wear of HSS tools under the condition of drilling die cast aluminum alloy

The influence of iron riched phases in die cast AlSi₉Cu₃ alloy on the flank wear characteristics of high speed steel(HSS) tools was investigated in the present work under the drilling condition without lubrication. The results show that iron riched phase mainly existed in the shape of fine polygon, Fe content less than 0.6wt%, flank wear mainly exhibited severe plastic deformation wear. Iron riched phases were mainly composed of α phase and polygonal phase, Fe content within 0.6 to 0.8wt%, the main wear mechanism transformed to adhesive wear and abrasive wear, decreasing in flank wear. α phase and polygonal phase were distinctly increased beside β phase of Al₅FeSi, Fe content more than 0.8, the main wear mechanism was abrasive wear, increasing in flank wear. The investigation reveals that the co existence of adhesive wear and abrasive wear is the reasonable wear mechanism for drilling die cast AlSi₉Cu₃ alloy.