Surface treatments of tools used in industrial wood machining

The aim of this study is to show the behaviour of modified knives by ion nitriding, hard coatings and duplex treatments (nitriding+hard coating) in peeling of beech (for the production of veneer and plywood) and in pulp chips production (used for the production of particle boards). These surface treatments were tested within the framework of a European project where laboratories and SME working in the primary transformation of wood were involved. After optimization of the surface treatments, we applied the best ones on knives and we tested them in laboratory and directly in industry. The results showed that the application of surface treatments on wood cutting knives increased their wear and shocks resistance and also the quality of the final product. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V All rights reserved.