The effects of cryogenic cooling on the grinding process of polyether ether ketone (PEEK)

The production of special high capability polymers and improvement of their physical and mechanical properties have led researchers to study the material removal mechanism of novel polymers. Fast loading of the grinding wheel is one of the main problems of polymers grinding which affect the whole process. Cryogenic cooling in the form of carbon dioxide snow, which is used in this research, is a promising method for the reduction of tool loading. The method may induce low cutting temperatures and has almost no negative environmental aspects. Surface topography, surface roughness, machining forces, and grinding wheel loading have been analyzed in this study. The final results were compared to compact air, which reveals that cryogenic cooling is a powerful method in order to optimize the grinding process. The influence of different input parameters on Polyether ether ketone (biopolymer) grinding was studied and analyzed as well. The results show that the tool loading can be reduced significantly by utilizing the cryogenic cooling, which also led to an improved ground surface quality.