Kerf formation analysis in the abrasive waterjet cutting of industrial ceramics

Abstract

This paper investigated the machinability and kerf formation characteristics associated with the abrasive waterjet cutting of industrial ceramics. It is found that at low cutting rates, the erosive process is associated with initial surface fracture leading to a high degree of plastic flow and deformation of the subsurface, probably due to the incidence of high thermal stresses at the jet–target interaction zone. At higher speeds, surface fracture results in an intergranular network propagating downward, creating a critical shear plane that forms a kerf due to the hydrodynamic forces within the waterjet. This study reveals that there exists a combination of process parameters for the effective machining of ceramics. A grooving wear effect exists for the uncut through kerf.