The development of modern jet engines would not be possible without dynamically developed nickel-chromium-based superalloys, such as INCONEL® The effective abrasive machining of above materials brings with it many problems and challenges, such as intensive clogging of the grinding wheel active surface (GWAS). This extremely unfavorable effect causes a reduction in the cutting ability of the abrasive tool as well as increase to grinding forces and friction in the whole process. The authors of this work demonstrate that introduction of a synthetic organosilicon polymer-based impregnating substance to the GWAS can significantly improve the effects of carrying out the abrasive process of hard-to-cut materials. Experimental studies were carried out on a set of a silicon-treated small-sized sol-gel alumina 1-35×10×10-SG/F46G10VTO grinding wheels. The set contained abrasive tools after the internal cylindrical grinding process of INCONEL® alloy 600 rings and reference abrasive tools. The condition of the GWAS after the impregnation process was studied, including imaging and measurements of its microgeometry using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), microanalysis of its elemental distribution using energy dispersive X-Ray fluorescence (EDXRF), and the influence of impregnation process on the grinding temperature using infrared thermography (IRT). The obtained results confirmed the correctness of introduction of the impregnating substance into the grinding wheel structure, and it was possible to obtain an abrasive tool with a recommended characteristic. The main favorable features of treated grinding wheel concerning the reduction of adhesion between the GWAS and grinding process products (limitation of the clogging phenomenon) as well as reduction of friction in the grinding process, which has a positive effect on the thermal conditions in the grinding zone.
Keywords: abrasive tools; hard-to-cut materials; impregnation process; internal cylindrical grinding; silicone; surface measurements and analysis.