Optimization and performance study of large aspect ratio SiC microgrooves by waterjet assisted laser machining

Abstract Silicon carbide (SiC) ceramics hold significant application value in high-end fields such as semiconductors and aerospace due to their exceptional mechanical properties and thermal stability. Large-aspect-ratio (LAR) microgrooves in ceramics are crucial for enabling advanced functionalities...

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Main Authors: Qijian Zhang, Wenzhao Yang, Xinwei Zhang, Jinjin Han, Yunxia Guo, Weining Lei
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-08-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-14499-7
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author Qijian Zhang
Wenzhao Yang
Xinwei Zhang
Jinjin Han
Yunxia Guo
Weining Lei
author_facet Qijian Zhang
Wenzhao Yang
Xinwei Zhang
Jinjin Han
Yunxia Guo
Weining Lei
author_sort Qijian Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Silicon carbide (SiC) ceramics hold significant application value in high-end fields such as semiconductors and aerospace due to their exceptional mechanical properties and thermal stability. Large-aspect-ratio (LAR) microgrooves in ceramics are crucial for enabling advanced functionalities in various applications, including microfluidic devices, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), and thermal management systems, where precise control over fluid flow, structural integrity, and heat dissipation is required. However, their extreme hardness poses challenges for traditional mechanical machining, including low efficiency and severe tool wear, while laser machining is prone to defects such as heat-affected zones and recast layers. This study innovatively employs waterjet-assisted laser micromachining (WJALM), compared to conventional underwater laser micromachining (UWLM), WJALM reduces the recast layer and microcracks through the synergistic cooling and impact effects of the waterjet, while maintaining smaller surface roughness (reduce by 42%). Furthermore, this research systematically optimized the machining parameters for LAR microgrooves through orthogonal experiments and grey-relational analysis (GRA). Results identified an optimal parameter combination is a scanning speed of 800 mm/s, pulse energy of 27 W, and waterjet velocity of 16 m/s, high-quality microgrooves with an aspect-ratio (AR) of 3.66 and an ablation-area-ratio (AAR) of 0.78 can be achieved. This study provides a novel technical solution for the precision machining of hard and brittle materials, offering substantial engineering application value.
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spelling doaj-art-8dea8e5a9d5641ffb2533cf3200cbbc42025-08-20T04:02:46ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-08-0115111610.1038/s41598-025-14499-7Optimization and performance study of large aspect ratio SiC microgrooves by waterjet assisted laser machiningQijian Zhang0Wenzhao Yang1Xinwei Zhang2Jinjin Han3Yunxia Guo4Weining Lei5College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Quanzhou University of Information EngineeringCollege of Mechanical Engineering, Jiangsu University of TechnologyCollege of Mechanical Engineering, Jiangsu University of TechnologyCollege of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Quanzhou University of Information EngineeringCollege of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Henan Institute of Science and TechnologyCollege of Mechanical Engineering, Jiangsu University of TechnologyAbstract Silicon carbide (SiC) ceramics hold significant application value in high-end fields such as semiconductors and aerospace due to their exceptional mechanical properties and thermal stability. Large-aspect-ratio (LAR) microgrooves in ceramics are crucial for enabling advanced functionalities in various applications, including microfluidic devices, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), and thermal management systems, where precise control over fluid flow, structural integrity, and heat dissipation is required. However, their extreme hardness poses challenges for traditional mechanical machining, including low efficiency and severe tool wear, while laser machining is prone to defects such as heat-affected zones and recast layers. This study innovatively employs waterjet-assisted laser micromachining (WJALM), compared to conventional underwater laser micromachining (UWLM), WJALM reduces the recast layer and microcracks through the synergistic cooling and impact effects of the waterjet, while maintaining smaller surface roughness (reduce by 42%). Furthermore, this research systematically optimized the machining parameters for LAR microgrooves through orthogonal experiments and grey-relational analysis (GRA). Results identified an optimal parameter combination is a scanning speed of 800 mm/s, pulse energy of 27 W, and waterjet velocity of 16 m/s, high-quality microgrooves with an aspect-ratio (AR) of 3.66 and an ablation-area-ratio (AAR) of 0.78 can be achieved. This study provides a novel technical solution for the precision machining of hard and brittle materials, offering substantial engineering application value.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-14499-7Waterjet-assisted laser micromachiningLarge-aspect-ratio microgroovesSilicon carbide ceramicsMulti-objective optimizationGrey-relational analysis
spellingShingle Qijian Zhang
Wenzhao Yang
Xinwei Zhang
Jinjin Han
Yunxia Guo
Weining Lei
Optimization and performance study of large aspect ratio SiC microgrooves by waterjet assisted laser machining
Scientific Reports
Waterjet-assisted laser micromachining
Large-aspect-ratio microgrooves
Silicon carbide ceramics
Multi-objective optimization
Grey-relational analysis
title Optimization and performance study of large aspect ratio SiC microgrooves by waterjet assisted laser machining
title_full Optimization and performance study of large aspect ratio SiC microgrooves by waterjet assisted laser machining
title_fullStr Optimization and performance study of large aspect ratio SiC microgrooves by waterjet assisted laser machining
title_full_unstemmed Optimization and performance study of large aspect ratio SiC microgrooves by waterjet assisted laser machining
title_short Optimization and performance study of large aspect ratio SiC microgrooves by waterjet assisted laser machining
title_sort optimization and performance study of large aspect ratio sic microgrooves by waterjet assisted laser machining
topic Waterjet-assisted laser micromachining
Large-aspect-ratio microgrooves
Silicon carbide ceramics
Multi-objective optimization
Grey-relational analysis
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-14499-7
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