Using machine-learning algorithms, Swedish researchers have calculated the forces between atoms in titanium-aluminum nitride, a ceramic material that makes the cutting edges on metal tools used in manufacturing harder and more durable.
The research, made possible through the use of a supercomputer, will eventually enable the creation of a thin film coating that gives a harder, longer-lasting edge to cutting tools.
The Value and Risk of Titanium-aluminum Nitride-coated Tools
Valued as a “workhorse” material in manufacturing, titanium-aluminium nitride-coated surfaces become harder during the cutting process (known as age hardening) but are sensitive to high temperatures. Cutting for more than a few minutes heats up the material to 900 degrees or above, causing the edge to soften and lose sharpness.
Until now, scientists have been unable to determine what happens at the atomic level during the cutting process because the existing theoretical model involves prohibitively time-consuming calculations when applied to a complex combination of materials.
Supercomputer Simulates Atom Displacement
After four years of work, researchers at Sweden’s Linköping University successfully used a supercomputer to process the calculations of around 40 alloys of the three elements: titanium, aluminum, and nitrogen. Now, a simulation will show researchers exactly which atoms are displaced when the material is super-heated, with picosecond time resolution.
The findings will allow scientists to develop strategies to avoid (or at least delay) degradation of the material, such as alloying the materials or creating specially-designed nanostructures. In practice, the model will enable manufacturers to save time and money through the development of tools with greater hardness and resistance to wear.
