On a diffusion wear model for high speed steel tools

The observation of a white diffusion layer at the HSS tool-BUE (mild steel) interface and in the crater, its composition and its identity are discussed here. Diffusion wear by itself is not a dominant mode of wear but depletion of elements from the tool surface makes it more prone to wear by plastic deformation to a larger extent and by abrasion to a lesser extent. Plastic deformation in coated carbide tools and Loladze's diffusion wear model for carbide tools are used to project a diffusion wear model for HSS tools at low to medium and at high speeds. © 1978 by ASME.