Flexural strength of porous ceramic-bonded composites for abrasive tools

Abstract

One of the main parameters to measure a grinding tool performance is the material strength. This is especially true for grinding wheels operating at speeds of 35 to 60 m/sec. The grinding wheel performance can also be impaired by its imbalance due to defects in its geometry and nonuniform distribution of weight over the volume. However, a way to improve the grinding efficiency is to use high-porosity low-hardness grinding wheels with lower strength properties. Research shows that the lower the grinding wheel’s strength – the bigger its structure number, the higher the content of burnable pore forming agents. This isespecially applicable to tools made from silicon carbide rather than fromalundum (electric corundum). The particle size of thepore forming agent has no major effect on the grinding wheel strength. Ceramic bonds with better adhesive capacity should be used together with overall improvement of the grinding tool structure.