Performance Study of LaPO4-Y2O3 Composite Fabricated by Sol-Gel Process Using Abrasive Waterjet Machining

Abstract

This chapter presents an effective approach to assess the abrasive water jet machining of lanthanum phosphate reinforced with yttrium composite. A novel composite is prepared with the mixture of lanthanum phosphate sol and yttrium nitrate hexalate with a ratio of 80/20 by aqueous sol-gel process. Silicon carbide of 80 mesh size is used as abrasive. The effects of each input parameter of abrasive water jet machining are studied with an objective to improve the material removal rate with reduced kerf angle and surface roughness. The observations show that the jet pressure contributes by 77.6% and 45.15% in determining material removal rate and kerf angle, respectively. Through analysis of variance, an equal contribution of jet pressure (38.18%) and traverse speed (40.97%) on surface roughness is recorded. Microscopic examination shows the internal stress developed by silicon carbide which tends to get plastic deformation over the cut surface.