An investigation on machinability of different materials by hydrodynamic polishing process

This paper studies the machinability of different materials by the hydrodynamic polishing process (abbreviated as the HDP process). The effect of the surface energy and hardness of a material on the machining rate is examined. A mathematical model, based on Rabinowicz's energy equation and the machining principle of the HDP process, is developed. This model suggests that the machining rate of a material is inversely proportional to its surface energy. The material hardness has no effect on the machining rate. The experimental study shows that the machining rate of a material (Cu-Al alloy) with low surface energy is higher than that of another material (silicon wafer) with high surface energy. The qualitative trend of machining rate for different materials is consistent with the prediction of the developed model. In addition, the effect of hardness for ductile materials has a negligible effect on the machining rate. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.