Correlation of Acoustic Emission, Scanning Electron Microscopy and 3D Topography Data to Investigate the Ground Ceramic Condition

Abstract

Abstract This paper considers the grinding parameters, which affect the initiation and propagation of surface and sub-surface cracks formed during the surface grinding of engineering ceramics. The results given in this paper are chosen from a much larger series of experiments, and can be shown to be representative in correlating the principal grinding parameters with a number of observed and measured properties. During grinding tests, for a range of grinding conditions, acoustic emission (AE) measurements, 3-D surface topography measurements, and scanning electron microscope (SEM) images are brought together in an effort to relate the initiation and propagation of surface and sub-surface cracks with specific grinding parameters. Subsequent results from three point bend tests carried out on ground specimens are also used to confirm the type and extent of sub-surface cracking produced during grinding.