Technological and environmental aspects in milling of γ-TiAl

Gamma-titanium aluminides present an attractive combination of low density, high melting temperature, good oxidation and burn resistance, high modulus and strength retention at elevated temperatures, and good creep properties. For this reason they are promising candidates as advanced structural materials for high temperature applications. However due to their high strength, high hardness and brittleness at room temperature, g-TiAl alloys are regarded as difficult-to-cut materials. Many efforts have been done during the last 20 years to introduce TiAl-based alloys into the aerospace and automotive market as engineering components. But for the application and diffusion of this new heat-resistant light-weight material for high performance components, a deeper knowledge of their machinability is still required. In this context, and given the increasing attention to the environmental aspects related to the manufacturing processes, the present research work is aimed at investigating two key aspects: the influence of cutting parameters and cooling conditions, on tool wear, surface finishing and power consumption in milling operations of a g-TiAl alloy.