Study on material removal mechanism in creep feed grinding of alumina ceramics

Surface morphology which reflects the material removal mechanism is the signature of the grinding process. Based on the experiments, the surface morphology of the ground surface of alumina ceramics after creep feed grinding is studied and analyzed by means of Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). On the basis of the test results, the material is mainly removed by brittle crash along with plastic flow. The formation of cracks is mainly due to pressing of diamond grit. Compared with conventional grinding, cracks on ground surface are reduced evidently because the normal grinding force of single diamond grit lying near the area of finish surface is smaller than critical loads which cause transversal crack and longitudinal crack.