Cryogenic treatment is one of the potential techniques to enhance cutting tool performance. The present work investigates the microstructure and machining performance of cemented carbide (WC-Co) inserts through deep cryogenic treatment. For this, ISO P30 WC-Co inserts were exposed to deep cryogenic treatment (−196 °C), accompanied by tempering at 200 °C. The cryogenic treatment cycle helps to develop η (eta) phase carbides by redistributing cobalt (Co) phase on the surface of cryogenically treated WC-Co inserts. Microhardness of specimens indicated a slight increase in the hardness of cryogenically treated inserts than its untreated counterpart. A comparative performance evaluation between cryogenically treated tungsten carbide insert and the untreated insert was studied by turning of AISI 316 austenitic stainless steel through tool flank wear, crater wear, and chip morphology. Machining operation was carried out by considering three different cutting speeds (i.e. at 100, 150, and 200 m/min.) with constant feed rate and depth of cut of 0.2 mm/rev and 1 mm, respectively. After cryogenic treatment, significant improvement in the average flank wear and crater wear of WC-Co insert was observed. The enhancement of tool wear in the cryogenically treated insert is explained in detail by analyzing their microstructures.

低温处理是增强切削工具性能的潜在技术之一。本工作通过深低温处理研究硬质合金（WC-Co）刀片的组织和加工性能。为此，将ISO P30 WC-Co刀片进行深低温处理（-196°C），并在200°C下回火。低温处理循环通过在经过低温处理的WC-Co刀片表面重新分布钴（Co）相，有助于形成η（η）相碳化物。样品的显微硬度表明，低温处理的刀片的硬度略高于未处理的刀片。通过刀具侧面磨损使AISI 316奥氏体不锈钢车削，研究了经过深冷处理的碳化钨刀片和未经处理的刀片之间的比较性能评估。火山口磨损和切屑形态。通过考虑三种不同的切削速度（即100、150和200 m / min）进行机械加工，恒定的进给速度和切削深度分别为0.2 mm / rev和1 mm。低温处理后，观察到WC-Co刀片的平均后刀面磨损和月牙洼磨损明显改善。通过分析其微观结构，详细解释了在深冷处理的刀片中刀具磨损的增加。