STUDY ON THE NANOMETRIC CUTTING OF MONOCRYSTALLINE CALCIUM FLUORIDE AT ELEVATED TEMPERATURES USING MOLECULAR DYNAMICS SIMULATION

Abstract

This study explores the challenges in machining hard and brittle materials like CaF2, known for their excellent optical and physical properties. To obtain a smooth and damage free surface of this material, traditional machining processes such as grinding, lapping and polishing are used which can be very costly and time consuming. This study proposes nanometric machining at elevated temperatures to enhance plasticity during machining thus reducing / eliminating subsurface damage. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were conducted at room temperature and elevated temperatures, showing improved plasticity and reduced cutting force at higher temperatures, aligning with experimental findings. A Dislocation Extraction Algorithm (DXA) helped analyze changes in material microstructures during cutting. The research also models the transition from ductile to brittle cutting modes based on varying chip thickness. These findings provide valuable insights into nanometric cutting of CaF2 at elevated temperatures, contributing to atomic-scale understanding and potential industrial applications.