Title:Grinding Model and Material Removal Mechanism of Medical Nanometer Zirconia Ceramics
Volume: 8
Issue: 1
Author(s): Dongkun Zhang, Changhe Li, Dongzhou Jia, Sheng Wang, Runze Li and Xiaoxiao Qi
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Brittle fracture, critical condition, ELID grinding, grinding zone temperature, grinding, material removal mechanism,
nano-zirconia ceramics, plastic removal, surface integrity.
Abstract: Many patents have been devoted to developing medical nanometer zirconia ceramic grinding techniques that
can significantly improve both workpiece surface integrity and grinding quality. Among these patents is a process for preparing
ceramic dental implants with a surface for improving osseo-integration by sand abrasive finishing under a jet pressure
of 1.5 bar to 8.0 bar and with a grain size of 30 µm to 250 µm. Compared with other materials, nano-zirconia ceramics
exhibit unmatched biomedical performance and excellent mechanical properties as medical bone tissue and dentures.
The removal mechanism of nano-zirconia materials includes brittle fracture and plastic removal. Brittle fracture involves
crack formation, extension, peeling, and chipping to completely remove debris. Plastic removal is similar to chip formation
in metal grinding, including rubbing, ploughing, and the formation of grinding debris. The materials are removed in
shearing and chipping. During brittle fracture, the grinding-led transverse and radial extension of cracks further generate
local peeling of blocks of the material. In material peeling and removal, the mechanical strength and surface quality of the
workpiece are also greatly reduced because of crack extension. When grinding occurs in the plastic region, plastic removal
is performed, and surface grinding does not generate grinding fissures and surface fracture, producing clinically
satisfactory grinding quality. With certain grinding conditions, medical nanometer zirconia ceramics can be removed
through plastic flow in ductile regime. In this study, we analyzed the critical conditions for the transfer of brittle and plastic
removal in nano-zirconia ceramic grinding as well as the high-quality surface grinding of medical nanometer zirconia
ceramics by ELID grinding.
