Machining of hygroscopic materials by high-pressure CO2 jet cutting

Cutting with a high-pressure CO2 jet has the potential for a dry and residue-free machining of hygroscopic materials. An experimental system for continuous CO2 high-pressure jets at atmospheric conditions was developed. The high-pressure liquid CO2 expands into atmospheric pressure after exiting the nozzle and changes to gas and particles and can be used for the machining of parts and surfaces. The investigations led to first expertises for the continuous jet cutting with high pressure CO2 at atmospheric conditions with jet pressures of up to 3000 bar. Commercial blasting plants are not available yet and only research institutes hold prototypes and experimental systems. During the technological examinations the mass flow and impulse forces of CO2 and high-pressure water jets were determined and compared experimentally. Identical cutting tests were carried out with polyurethane. Principal similarities are shown in the produced cutting surfaces and grooves of both processes. The experiments indicated that the effects of the individual blasting parameters are identical to the impulse force and groove depth for both processes. The high-pressure CO2 jet offers a dry and residue-free machining of hygroscopic materials. The process can be integrated decentralized and directly into production lines. According to the current knowledge, the limitation for the cutting of materials, depending on the thickness of the workpiece, is a maximum hardness of 60 Shore D at a maximum density of 600 g/cm3. Thus, the process is currently limited to the processing of synthetic and natural materials.