Evaluation of Surface Preparation Techniques, SFG: Swing Frame Grinding and LPG: Low-Temperature Precision Grinding, by Comparison of Results on Alumnia and Silicon Carbide Model Materials

Two commercially available high performance ceramics, pure alumina and silicon infiltrated silicon carbide, selected for specific appearance in respect to abrasion and mechanical properties, were prepared by two different surface preparation procedures, SFG and LPG. The SFG, the conventional "Swing Frame Grinding" and the LPG, the "Low-temperature Precision Grinding", proposed and developed in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Georgian Technical University, Tbilisi, were compared to each other in the frame of the European project INTAS-96-2226 with partners in Liverpool, Tbilisi and Vienna by means of the investigation of surface roughness, of residual compressive stresses induced during preparation, heat treatment and by statistically relevant number of tests of bending strength. From the results of all these investigations it can be concluded that the novel LPG procedure is superior to the conventional SFG surface preparation procedure.