Comparative assessment of abrasives in magnetic abrasive finishing: An experimental performance evaluation

• Published in: Journal of magnetism and magnetic materials 2024-08, Vol.604, p.172312, Article 172312
• Main Authors: Singh, Amardeep, Singh, Palwinder, Kaushik, Arishu, Singh, Sehijpal, Singh, Lakhvir, Singh, Amandeep, Ram, Baljinder
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: MAF; Magnetic Abrasive Finishing; Magnetic abrasives; Mechanical alloying; Sintered
• ISSN: 0304-8853
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jmmm.2024.172312

•Several methods of preparation of magnetic abrasives have been discussed.•A thorough evaluation, comparison of magnetic characteristics and the performance of three types of magnetic abrasives is studied.•The finishing efficiency of these magnetic abrasives has been assessed and compared through detailed experimentation. The Magnetic Abrasive Finishing (MAF) technique is proficient in refining hard-to-reach surfaces such as the inner surfaces of bent tubes and capillary tubes. Magnetic abrasives (MAs) function as multi-point cutting tools, significantly contributing to attaining the desired surface quality on the workpiece. Numerous methods, detailed in the literature, exist for the preparation of magnetic abrasives. Previous research emphasizes on optimizing the parameters of the MAF process for specific magnetic abrasive formulations. A thorough evaluation and comparison of their performance is needed. In this study, MAs are prepared with three different techniques viz. Simply mixed, Sintered, and Mechanical Alloying techniques. The magnetic characteristics of these MAs were evaluated by measuring the actual magnetic flux density (MFD, B) within the magnetic abrasive brush. Additionally, their finishing performance was assessed through experiments conducted on the MAF setup to refine the inner surface of a brass tube. The results indicated that MAs produced through mechanical alloying exhibited superior magnetic properties and finishing efficiency. The minimum average surface roughness attained by mechanically alloyed, sintered, and simply mixed magnetic abrasives is 0.51 µm, 0.71 µm, and 1.15 µm, respectively, after finishing for 60 min under identical experimental conditions. A direct correlation is observed between magnetic flux density (B) and the finishing efficiency of magnetic abrasives, with mechanically alloyed magnetic abrasives demonstrating better finishing efficiency and superior magnetic properties.