Product Code: ICAL09_M604

Effect of Grain Size on the Laser Machinability of Alumina
Authors:
Michael Furlan, Queen\'S University; Kingston ON Canada
Gene Zak, Queen\'S University; Kingston ON Canada
Presented at ICALEO 2009

The effect of grain size on the laser machinability of alumina (Al2O3) was examined in order to meet the demand of higher tolerances when laser machining advanced ceramics. Laser lines created in alumina samples fabricated by using progressively increasing sintering times showed a difference in the amount of damage produced along the edges of the channels that were created, with less damage in smaller-grained samples. The average line width of the samples decreased with increasing grain size. It was hypothesized that these effects are a result of grain boundaries absorbing a higher amount of energy than the bulk.