Material removal behavior of Cf/SiC ceramic matrix composites as a function of abrasive wear during diamond abrasive belt grinding

Abstract

Continuous fiber-reinforced ceramic matrix composites are promising materials in aerospace, energy, transportation, and other fields due to their excellent thermodynamic properties. However, their high hardness, brittleness, and anisotropy cause great challenges to grinding, such as poor grinding quality, severe grinding wheel wear, and low grinding efficiency. In the present study, abrasive belts were used for the first time to grind Cf/SiC composites. The material removal behavior and abrasive wear of Cf/SiC composites were investigated by using two types of abrasive belts. It was found that diamond abrasive grains on the abrasive belts were worn in the form of falling off, cleavage fracture, micro-adhesion, and abrasive clogging. The electroplated diamond abrasive belt manifested better wear resistance and grinding performance than the bonded diamond abrasive belt. Carbon fibers and the SiC ceramic matrix were crushed and plastically deformed during abrasive belt grinding. The formation of flow chips and powder chips indicated that the ductile material removal of Cf/SiC composites was significant during abrasive belt grinding because of its flexible contact characteristics. Moreover, the ductile material removal behavior became more significant with the increasing abrasive wear intensity because of the strengthening of abrasive grain extrusion.