Surface grinding can cause a significant decrease³ in the flexure strength of advanced ceramics materials. The magnitude of the loss in strength is determined by the grinding conditions and the response of the material. This test method can be used to obtain a detailed characterization of the relationship between grinding conditions and flexure strength for an advanced ceramic material. The effect on flexure strength of varying a single grinding parameter or several grinding parameters can be measured. The method may also be used to compare and rank different materials according to their response to one or more different grinding conditions. Results obtained by this method can be used to develop an optimum grinding process with respect to maximizing material removal rate for a specified flexure strength requirement. The test method can assist in the development of improved grinding-damage-tolerant ceramic materials. It may also be used for quality control purposes to monitor and assure the consistency of a grinding process in the fabrication of parts from advanced ceramic materials. The test method is applicable to grinding methods that generate a planar surface and is not directly applicable to grinding methods that produce non-planar surfaces such as cylindrical and centerless grinding.

1.1 This test method covers the determination of the effect of surface grinding on the flexure strength of advanced ceramics. Surface grinding of an advanced ceramic material can introduce microcracks and other changes in the near surface layer, generally referred to as damage (See ). Such damage can result in a change-most often a decrease-in flexure strength of the material. The degree of change in flexure strength is determined by both the grinding process and the response characteristics of the specific ceramic material. This method compares the flexure strength of an advanced ceramic material after application