SEM-Based Morphological Analysis Of The New Generation AION-Based Abrasive Grains (Abral®) With Reference to Al2O3/SiC/cBN Abrasives

This paper presents the general characteristics of a new generation of abrasive grains made from alumina oxynitride AlON manufactured under the trademark Abral®. The chemical composition and main characteristics of these grains were given in relation to the most popular abrasive materials, such as: white fused alumina 99A, microcrystalline sintered corundum (SGTM), green silicon carbide 99C, and mono- and microcrystalline cubic boron nitride (cBN). Within the section that covers the experiment the methodology of micrograph acquisition, using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques, was described in detail, as well as its processing methodology and analysis, which was conducted in order to obtain information about the morphological characteristics of the evaluated abrasive grains. The data obtained is presented in the form of a representative set of SEM micrographs registered for the six variations of the abrasive grains, together with an analysis of the differences in their morphology. As a result of the experimental investigations it was found that the Abral® grains are very similar to white fused alumina 99A grains, in terms of features such as: polycrystalline structure, pointed shape, developed surface and values of apex angles.