Shunzo Tashima

Cutting performance of high purity alumina ceramic tools formed by a high-speed centrifugal compaction process

Abstract Using a high-speed centrifugal compaction process (centrifugal force: 1 × 104 −2 × 104 G) developed by the authors, a slip prepared from alumina powder with a purity of 99.99% and an average particle size of 0.22 μ m was compacted, and sintered at 1230 °C for 1.5 hours in the atmosphere. The sintered compact has superior mechanical properties, including a 3 - point bending strength of 1330 MPa and a Vickers hardness of 2100. The cutting performance of this alumina sintered compact was studied. The results show that tools manufactured using the subject high-speed centrifugal compaction process have relatively high wear resistance and fracture resistance as compared with commercially available high purity alumina ceramic tools.