Influence of Local Temperature Changes on the Material Microstructure in Abrasive Water Jet Machining (AWJM)

• Published in: Materials Vol. 14; no. 18; p. 5399
• Main Authors: Spadło, Sławomir, Bańkowski, Damian, Młynarczyk, Piotr, Hlaváčová, Irena M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 18.09.2021; MDPI
• Subjects: Abrasive cutting; Abrasive machining; abrasive water jet; Abrasives; Computer engineering; cutting; Design of experiments; Energy; Grain size; Hardness tests; Heat transfer; Hydraulic jets; Indentation; jet impact zone; metallographic analysis; Metallography; Microhardness; Micromachining; Microstructure; Plastic deformation; Scanning microscopy; Software; Temperature; temperature measurement; Thermal energy; Velocity; Workpieces; Czech Republic
• ISSN: 1996-1944; 1996-1944
• DOI: 10.3390/ma14185399

This article considers effects of local heat transfer taking place insteel cutting by abrasive water jet machining (AWJM). The influence of temperature changes during AWJM has not been investigated thoroughly. Most studies on AWJM suggest that thermal energy has little or no effect on the material cut. This study focused on the analysis of the material microstructure and indentation microhardness in the jet impact zone and the adjacent area. The structure features revealed through optical metallography and scanning microscopy suggest local temperature changes caused by the impact of the abrasive water jet against the workpiece surface. From the microscopic examinationand hardness tests, it is clear that, during the process, large amounts of energy were transferred locally. The mechanical stress produced by the water jet led to plastic deformation at and near the surface. This was accompanied by the generation and transfer of large amounts of heat resulting in a local rise in temperature to 450 °C or higher.