Contributing Factors of Grinding Wheel Blockage

Different abrasives and workpiece materials have different chemical affinity and grinding temperature. To reduce grinding wheel blockage, we should choose proper types of abrasives.

Abrasive Grits

Fused alumina abrasive is a good choice for iron carbon alloy. Carbon is combined with oxygen in the air to form a thin oxidation film that can prevent the chemical affinity effect between workpiece and abrasives effectively. The thermostability of abrasives is also of great influence to grinding wheel blockage. If we use CBN (Cubic Boron Nitride) to grind titanium alloy, the grinding efficiency will be dozens of times better than grinding wheels with white fused alumina as abrasive.

Bonding Agents and Hardness

Grinding wheels’ hardness means how hard it is for abrasive grains to fall off, which is guaranteed by the bonding force of bonding agents. The higher the bonding force, the higher the hardness, the more serious of abrasives to scratch the workpiece. More friction heat is produced, which lead to more possibility for grinding wheel blockage. Therefore, the higher the hardness, the more serious the blockage will be. When grinding difficult-to-cut materials, we had better choose softer grinding wheels.

Grinding Conditions

When the linear velocity of grinding wheel accelerates from 28.8m/s to 33.6m/s, the velocity is improved by 16%, while the blockage will increase threefold. However, when the linear velocity of grinding wheel reaches 50m/s and above, grinding wheel blockage will be reduced substantially. So we should try to avoid 20m/s and 50m/s.

Grinding Fluid

Different grinding fluid has great effect on grinding. currently, universal water soluble oil solution contains large amount of mineral oil and oiliness additives. Its specific heat capacity and coefficient of heat conductivity are small that during severe friction, grinding wheel blockage will take place and abrasives break and fall off. Therefore, choosing superior grinding fluid is important to change grinding efficiency.