ABSTRACT
CONTENTS 11.1 Introduction ............................................................................................. 257 11.2 Double Fracture Model.......................................................................... 258 11.3 Experimental Procedures ...................................................................... 258
11.3.1 Materials..................................................................................... 258 11.3.2 Apparatus .................................................................................. 260 11.3.3 Methodology ............................................................................. 261
11.4 Conclusions.............................................................................................. 261
Advanced ceramic materials offer superior temperature, and tribological and strength characteristics to metals, although the replacement of metal parts with ceramic parts, in many instances, has been hindered by the high cost associated with conversion. Ceramic parts are expensive because of the difficulties in fabrication (20%–30%) and machining (70%–80%). Much of the effort to reduce the cost has been applied to fabrication methods to obtain techniques for near-net shape processing. This goal is much harder to achieve because the required tolerances are tightened every year. Thus, effective and adapted machining methods are required.
