Optimization of sandblasting process of complex 3D surface polishing using variable viscoelastic diamond particles abrasive

Abstract

This article reports a novel and efficient diamond particles abrasive with tunable viscoelasticity for sandblasting polishing. Controlling the rust inhibitor content can change its viscoelasticity to adhere diamond particles on polymer materials. Using the sandblasting mechanism, the abrasive deform and slide on the workpiece surface, so that the diamond particles can cut onto the surface peaks of the workpiece. Thus, the complicated morphology can be rapidly and precisely polished. The friction generated by the abrasive on the surface of the workpiece will cause the rust inhibitor solution to evaporate, resulting in reduced viscosity, which makes the diamond particles gradually fall off from the abrasive. Applying Taguchi method, the optimal parameters for viscosity and injection angle were identified. The surface roughness was found to decrease from Ra = 1.47 μm to Ra = 0.2 μm in 3 min. The two kinds of complex concave surfaces of different materials were polished by this innovative composite diamond particles abrasive with the optimal parameter values, which has been verified to have 40 times higher efficiency than the traditional manual polishing.

Keywords:

• Abrasive blasting process
• diamond particle
• rust inhibitor solution
• surface roughness value
• viscoelasticity

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the Kun-yu Pan’s general manager of Cosmovac Industrial Co., Ltd. for providing the equipment and Chang Gung University Center for Reliability Science and Technologies (CReST) for providing the facilities for the test.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by Ministry of Science and Technology