Improvement of Machinability of Ground Hardox 500 Steel

Abrasion-resistant steels (e.g., AR200, AR235, AR400, AR450, AR500 and AR600), also called wear-resistant steels, contain high amounts of carbon to resist wear and stress. They are characterized by good mechanical properties. They are employed in several applications where wear is intense. Among the fields in which these materials are intensively utilized, we can cite mining technology, earthmoving machinery, steel mills, cement plants and agricultural machinery. Indeed, the main disadvantage of Abrasion-resistant steel is that it has complex machinability caused by the wear of the cutting tools. The major objective of the present research work consists in enhancing the machinability of ground surfaces of Hardox 500 steel using a Sol Gel (SG) grinding wheel, having a depth of cut equal to 10 μm, a wheel speed equal to 22 m/s and a working speed equal to 9 m/min. The utilized wheel has two different lubrication modes: dry oil and soluble oil modes. The obtained findings demonstrate that, in comparison to the dry condition, soluble oil lubrication provided improved machinability (minimized specific grinding forces and energy) and reduced roughness (Ra et Rt), compared to the other lubrication condition.