Grinding process of partially stabilized zirconia.

Cylindrical plunge grinding process and chip formation mechanism of normally sintered and partially stabilized zirconia are experimentally investigated with bronze bond diamond wheel, analyzing grinding force, surface roughness, wheel wear, grinding chips and so on. A new technique for better surface finish is introduced in which readjustment truing with an impregnated dresser is performed after dressing of diamond wheel with GC wheel. Main conclusions obtained in this study are as follows : (1) In a cylindrical plunge grinding cycle of partially stabilized zirconia with bronze bond diamond wheel, there are three distinct grinding states such as spark-in, steady and spark-out just as in grinding metallic materials. (2) Readjustment truing technique leads to better surface finish and higher grinding force as compared with those in dressing with GC wheel. (3) Grinding force increases with an increase of setting depth of cut, while surface roughness is hardly influenced by setting depth of cut. (4) Chip formation in grinding partially stabilized zirconia is primarily predominated by plastic deformation as in grinding metals.