Surface pretreatment methods for cemented carbide substrates of the coated cutting tools: A review

Surface pretreatment of cemented carbide substrates is utilized to eliminate defects such as burrs, chips, and grinding marks resulting from the grinding process. It also optimizes the physicochemical properties of the coating-substrate interface and enhances the adhesion strength between the coating and substrate, ultimately improving cutting performance and extending the service life of cutting tools. This research provides a comprehensive and systematic review of advancements in tool pretreatment technologies, outlining visions for their future development. Initially, it offers a concise overview of commonly utilized coating materials for cemented carbide coated cutting tools. Subsequently, it delves into the mechanisms through which the surface characteristics of cemented carbide substrates influence the adhesion properties of coatings. Building upon existing processing technologies, new pretreatment methods are explored, with a systematic summary and analysis of their principles, advantages, and limitations. These pretreatment methods are categorized into common and non-conventional methods. A comparative analysis of these methods is conducted, considering factors such as surface quality, coating adhesion strength, processing efficiency, processing difficulty, cost, and general availability. Finally, the prospective trajectory for the evolution and advancement of tool pretreatment technologies is delineated in the research.