This paper reports ductile or partial ductile mode machining of silicon, glass and some advanced ceramics. Results are presented using scanning electron micrographs of the machined surfaces. Grinding and lapping operations using inexpensive machine tools could produce ductile streaks on surfaces of these brittle materials under good conditions. Manufacture of spherical glass lenses by the fract...

This paper studies the surface finish and integrity of glass, silicon, some advanced ceramics and aluminum-based metal matrix composites (MMCs) reinforced with ceramic particles, precision machined by various machining processes. The studies revealed that grinding/lapping operations using inexpensive machine tools can produce ductile streaks on glass and silicon surfaces under good grinding/lap...

This article discusses the recent developments in grinding of advanced materials. Eighty-four journal papers published recently are briefly introduced. The topics are advances in grinding of brittle materials, grinding of silicon, dressing/truing of grinding wheels, grinding fluids, grinding of mirrors and vibration-assisted grinding, measuring/ monitoring of grinding, optimization of grinding,...

The hardened alpha-case (alpha-case) layer inevitably forms on the surface of titanium castings when prepared by investment casting. Because the hardness of the alpha-case is incomparable to that of the interior structure, the perception exists that the alpha-case is difficult to remove during cutting, grinding and polishing. Grindability (ease of grinding) of cast cpTi and cast Ti-6Al-4V was e...

This paper presents results obtained from the grinding of aluminium-based metal matrix composites reinforced with either aluminium oxide (Al2O3) or silicon carbide (SiC) particles using grinding wheels made of SiC in a vitrified matrix or diamond in a resin-bonded matrix. The study used grinding speeds of 1100–2200 m min , a grinding depth of 15 m for rough grinding and 0.1–1 m for fine grindin...

The effect of ultraprecision grinding on microstructural change in silicon monocrystals, such as surface roughness and dislocation structure, was investigated both experimentally and theoretically. The study found that there exists an additional concentration of oxygen and carbon in an amorphous layer for all investigated grinding regimes with their distributions dependent on the grinding varia...

The actual grinding result of ceramics has not been well predicted by the present mechanical models. No allowance is made for direct effects of materials microstructure and almost all the mechanical models were obtained based on crystalline ceramics. In order to improve the mechanical models of ceramics, surface grinding experiments on crystalline ceramics and non-crystalline ceramics were cond...

Conventional material removal of BK7 optical glass will normally result in brittle fracture at the surface, generating severe subsurface damage and poor surface finish. Subsurface damages induced by grinding strongly influence the mechanical strength and optical quality of optical glasses. However, through ductile mode grinding it is possible to reduce the surface and subsurface cracks. It is m...

Conventional material removal of BK7 optical glass will normally result in brittle fracture at the surface, generating severe subsurface damage and poor surface finish. Subsurface damages induced by grinding strongly influence the mechanical strength and optical quality of optical glasses. However, through ductile mode grinding it is possible to reduce the surface and subsurface cracks. It is m...