Machining alumina-based ceramics

Masuda, M., Sato, T., Kori, T. and Chujo, Y. (1994) Cutting performance and wear mechanism for alumina-based ceramic tools when machining austempered ductile iron. Wear 174 147-153. 

Kumar AS, Durai AR, Somakumar T (2006) The effect of tool wear on tool life of alumina-based ceramic cutting tools while machining hardened martensitic stainless steel. J Mater Process Technol 173(2) 151-156... 

However, Ando et al. have investigated the healing of not the machining cracks but the indented crack in the oxide-based ceramics, i.e., mullite and alumina (based... 

Plain oxide ceramics do not enable economical machining of luckel base materials, due to their poor resistance to thermal shock and low firacture toughness. Alumina oxide with titanium-carbide, so-called mixed ceramics, was successful applied with cutting velocities up to 500 m/min for turning operations (Wiemann 2006). 

Ceramics, particularly new ceramic composites, are widely used in the cutting-tool industry. For example, alumina reinforced with silicon carbide whiskers (extremely fine fibers) is used to cut and machine cast iron and harder nickel-based alloys. Ceramic materials are also used in grinding wheels and as abrasives because of tiieir exceptional hardness (Table 12.4). Silicon carbide is the most widely used abrasive. 

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