ABSTRACT
The process of rock cutting involves different types of motion contact between rock and tool, causing different kinds of damage to the cutting tool. According to Zum Gahr the mechanisms causing damage are plastic deformation, corrosion, cracks and wear. The difference in motion contact as well as the properties of tool, rock and the environment may affect the wear process. To describe the different wear processes, wear type classifications are made. In this study, the wear-type classifications described by Zum Gahr have been used as a basis to determine what types of wear might be relevant to the wear of rock cutting tools. Abrasive wear and adhesive wear are assumed to dominate the wear process during rock cutting of rock types containing minerals harder than the tool material. Adhesive wear contributes to total wear when the temperature and the contact stresses are high enough to weaken the cutting tool material and when the cutting tool is worn by soft abrasives.
