A STUDY OF MICRO-CHANNELING ON GLASSES USING AN ABRASIVE SLURRY JET

A study of micro-channeling on glasses using an abrasive slurry jet is presented. The mechanism of channel formation is discussed. It is found that the cross section of the channel is characterized by a V-shape, where the maximum channel width is larger than the nozzle inner diameter. The surface morphology features with two types of major and minor wave patterns. The major wave patterns with large wavelength developed along the channel are caused by the jet deflection during nozzle traverse motion. The minor wave patterns are a result of the secondary viscous flow that is induced by the impact of jet on the target. Material was eroded predominantly by the ductile mode, resulting in a smooth surface. The depth of the channel is mainly affected by the jet kinetic energy transferring to material via abrasive particles. In contrast, the viscous flow plays a main role in the formation of the channel width. The turbulent flow that drives the moving particles accumulated at the bottom of the channel contributes to the formation of channel wall inclination. With a proper control of the operating parameters, this technology can be used for machining micro-channel on brittle materials to achieve high surface quality.