Explore the importance of polishing in advanced ceramic production

Polishing is important in the manufacturing of the advanced ceramics industry, and it plays a key role in the quality, performance and appearance of the final product. Polishing is to further improve the appearance quality of ceramic products by removing the surface defects, burr, particles and other uneven surface, so that the ceramic surface is more smooth and smooth.

01  Polishing can affect the following aspects of advanced ceramics:

①Surface finish: it can remove the roughness and inhomogeneity of the ceramic material surface, so that the surface to achieve a higher finish. This is crucial for some applications such as optical components, laser components, semiconductor materials, because the finish of the surface directly affects the optical properties and precision. For example, the importance of polishing for optical ceramics is self-evident.

As an advanced material applied in the optical field, the optical surface quality and properties of optical ceramics are crucial to their function and application. The importance of polishing for optical ceramics is that it can improve optical quality, reduce light scattering and reflection, enhance the transmittance and transmission performance of light, and maintain long-term optical stability. Polishing can also improve the wear resistance and corrosion resistance of optical ceramics, and enhance their stability and durability in harsh environments. These characteristics enable optical ceramics to perform excellent performance in optical devices, laser technology, optical communication and optical sensing, and meet the requirements of high precision, high definition and high optical applications.

②Size and shape precision: to help ceramic products to achieve higher size and shape precision. By controlling the processing parameters and process technology in the polishing process, the accurate processing and fine-tuning of ceramic products can be realized to ensure that they meet the design requirements.

③Surface flatness: eliminate the bulge and depression of ceramic surface, improve the surface flatness. The improvement of the surface flatness can reduce the contact pressure and friction between the abrasive and the product surface, and reduce the wear and the cutting effect of the abrasive on the ceramics. Therefore, polished ceramic products with more flat surfaces usually have better wear resistance. This is critical for some applications that require highly flat surfaces, such as precision mechanical parts, sealing elements, etc., to ensure their performance and reliability.

④Surface quality and wear resistance: Polishing can improve the surface quality of ceramic products, and make them more smooth and delicate. A smooth surface can reduce friction resistance and adhesion force, and reduce wear and abrasive damage. Polishing can also eliminate the microscopic sharp edges and roughness of the surface, reduce particle embedding and scraping, and improve wear resistance. This is particularly important for some applications that need wear resistance and fatigue resistance, such as ceramic bearings and ceramic cutting tools.

02 What processing skills are needed to pay attention to in the polishing process?

In the polishing process, several key factors need to be considered and controlled, including several processing parameters and process techniques:

①Polishing medium and abrasive selection: It is very important to choose the polishing medium and abrasive suitable for specific ceramic materials. Different ceramic materials may have different requirements on the properties of the polishing media and the abrasive materials. For example, factors such as hardness, particle size and shape need to be selected according to the characteristics of the ceramic to achieve optimal polishing results.

 The polishing media commonly used for advanced ceramic products are as follows:

Polishing paste: a dense paste substance usually composed of grinding and lubricant. It is widely used in hand polishing and polishing processes for specific applications, such as hand polishing the surface of ceramic parts.

Grinding fluid: a liquid in which the grinding particles are suspended. It is usually used in the wet polishing process, by polishing with appropriate grinding equipment, such as rotating plate, vibration plate, etc. The grinding fluid provides a uniform distribution of abrasive for more accurate polishing.

Polishing paper: paper or film with grinding particles, often used for hand polishing and small area ceramic products. It has different granularity and viscosity, according to the needs to choose the appropriate polishing paper to achieve different precision of the polishing effect.

Commonly used abrasive are silicon carbide abrasive, alumina abrasive, diamond abrasive, etc.

②Polishing pressure and speed: The pressure applied to the surface of the ceramic product during the polishing process and the movement speed of the polishing head are the key parameters. Proper polishing pressure and speed can achieve the smooth finish and flatness of the surface, while avoiding excessive wear or thermal damage. These parameters need to be adjusted and optimized according to the specific ceramic materials and requirements.

③Polishing time and cycle: this refers to the time and the number of cycles of the ceramic products exposed to the polishing medium and the abrasive during the polishing process. Proper polishing time and period can achieve the desired surface quality and precision. Too short time may not achieve the desired polishing effect, while too long time may lead to excessive wear or surface damage.

④The pH value and temperature of the polishing solution: this factor can affect the chemical reaction and stripping effect during the polishing process. Proper pH and temperature can provide better surface quality and polishing efficiency. These parameters need to be adjusted and controlled according to the specific polishing material and process requirements.

⑤Polishing tool selection and design: the selection of the right polishing tools (such as polishing head, optical disc throwing, etc.) and its design parameters (such as shape, hardness, size, etc.) are crucial to the effect of the polishing process. The polishing tool shall match the ceramic material and have appropriate stiffness and surface characteristics to ensure good polishing effect and consistency.

Is polishing the last step in the production process of advanced ceramic products?

Whether polishing is used as a final step depends on the specific requirements of the advanced ceramic products and the design of the production process. In the actual production, it is necessary to determine the position and order of polishing according to the characteristics and requirements of the product, combined with the process technology and quality control requirements. The specific production process may vary by product type, requirements, and manufacturing methods.

The purpose is to improve the surface quality, finish and optical performance of ceramic products, polishing is generally the last step. Polishing can remove defects, burrs, particles, etc. formed in the manufacturing process, making the surface more smooth and smooth.

Some advanced ceramic products may require special surface treatment, such as coating, coating, spraying, etc. In this case, polishing may be performed before these treatments to prepare surfaces suitable for subsequent treatments. For several advanced ceramic products that require very high precision, multiple processing steps may be required, including polishing. In this case, polishing may occur between other processing steps to progressively reach the desired precision.

In addition, depending on the specific product and application area, other subsequent treatment steps, such as cleaning, coating, inspection, etc. The sequence and combination of these steps may vary depending on the product requirements and the characteristics of the manufacturing process.

This article is reprinted from CERADIR