Processing performance of Al2O3/Fe-based composite spherical magnetic abrasive particles

Magnetic Abrasive Finishing (MAF) is a technique to enhance the surface quality of products. In MAF, the magnetic abrasive particles (MAPs) play a vital role. In this study, the processing performance of Al₂O₃/Fe-based composite spherical MAPs prepared by gas atomization is studied. Experimental results indicate that different sizes of MAPs and Al₂O₃ grains have different finishing performance. The surface quality of 316L stainless steel is significantly improved by using 100–120 mesh MAPs with W7 Al₂O₃ grains. The effective processing time of MAPs can reach 155 min. It is normal wear in the finishing process, and there is no MAP crushing and Al₂O₃ grains shedding. The MAPs have good finishing performance and long wear life.