Microscopic analysis of the Sol-Gel alumina grinding wheel after the introduction of a synthetic organosilicon polymer-based impregnate dedicated for near dry grinding processes

In the paper, analysis of the surface condition of 1-35 × 10 × 10-SG/ F46G10VTO grinding wheels with microcrystalline sintered alumina abrasive grains and a glass-crystalline bond after the impregnation process using a synthetic organosilicon polymer (silicone) has been presented. The main goal was to compare the values of selected surface topography parameters obtained from the active surfaces of an impregnated set of grinding wheels with those same parameters obtained from a non-impregnated reference wheel. The analysis proved that an elaborated method of introducing the impregnating substance is effective and allowing to uniformly its distribution throughout the body of the grinding wheel. However, the introduction of impregnating substance caused a reduction (average from 13% to 50%) in the values of the selected 3D parameters of grinding wheel active surface (GWAS) roughness. An analysis described in this work is the basis of an objective evaluation of the experimental results of the grinding process conducted with use of that kind of wheels.