Title: Investigation on workpiece microstructure and wheel performance on grinding titanium metal matrix composites

Authors: Cécile Escaich; Zhongde Shi; Luc Baron; Marek Balazinski

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Polytechnique Montréal, 2500 Chemin de Polytechnique, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada ' Aerospace Manufacturing Technology Center, National Research Council Canada, 5145 Avenue Decelles, Montreal, Quebec, H3T 2B2, Canada ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Polytechnique Montréal, 2500 Chemin de Polytechnique, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Polytechnique Montréal, 2500 Chemin de Polytechnique, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada

Abstract: An experimental study is reported on the grinding of a titanium metal matrix composite (TiMMC) using electroplated diamond wheels. Flat surface grinding experiments were performed at a fixed wheel speed v_s = 20 m/s, various depths of cut a = 0.03-0.08 mm, and workspeeds v_w = 10-100 mm/s. Additional tests were also conducted on titanium alloy (Ti alloy) for comparisons. The wheel wear and its effects on grinding forces, power, surface roughness, and workpiece microstructures are presented. The process limits were also investigated. It was revealed that steady state wheel wear on TiMMC was slightly slower than on Ti alloy. Low specific energy ranging from 16-34 J/mm³ was obtained for both materials. It was found that surface roughness decreases for TiMMC, but increases for Ti alloy, with increasing workspeeds. Plastic deformation leads to microstructural changes in the form of twinning below ground surfaces.

Keywords: grinding; titanium metal matrix composite; TiMMC; electroplated diamond wheel; wheel wear; surface integrity.

DOI: 10.1504/IJAT.2023.136325

International Journal of Abrasive Technology, 2023 Vol.11 No.4, pp.293 - 309

Received: 18 Oct 2022
Accepted: 13 Jan 2023
Published online: 30 Jan 2024 *

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