DETERMINATION AND CONTROL OF GRINDING ZONE TEMPERATURE UNDER CRYOGENIC COOLING

Grinding processes, though employed widely as a finishing process, hav e their own share of problems, like high grinding zone temperature whi ch may lead to thermal damage to the work surface, like induction of t ensile residual stresses, development of microcracks, enhanced risks o f wheel loading and excessive wheel wear. Grinding fluids are applied in different forms to control such high temperature, but they are part ially effective within a narrow working range; recent studies also ind icate their polluting nature. Cryogenic cooling, if employed properly, could control the grinding zone temperature more effectively by inten sive removal of heat from the grinding zone. The present study deals w ith the effect of cryogenic cooling on grinding zone temperature for f ive commonly used steels both experimentally and computationally. Resu lts indicate that the effectiveness of cryogenic cooling is substantia l throughout the experimental domain.