Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Experimental investigation on fine particle emission during granite polishing process

  • ORIGINAL ARTICLE
  • Published:
The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Environmental, occupational health and safety regulations are pushing manufacturers towards reducing of manufacturing hazards including aerosol and fine particles. Granite shaping, cutting, and polishing are some of these processes producing large amount of dust containing silica that must be controlled. At the same time, the machining conditions must remain competitive and cost-effective and lead to quality parts. The goal of this work is to address these issues by determining the factors governing the dust emission during granite polishing in order to reduce the risk of exposition while producing quality parts. To do so, experimental polishing tests were carried on a vertical CNC machining center using an adaptable tool holder which controlled the contact pressure during the tests. Diamond polishing tools with different grit sizes were used. The workpiece tested were two granites, one with high silica content (white granite) and another with low silica content (black granite). The output responses studied include the surface finish, the forces, and the fine particle emission and dispersion. The experimental results led to establishing relationships between the surface finish, dust emission, and cutting forces on one hand and the abrasive sizes and polishing conditions on the other hand. It was found that the polishing tool grit size governs not only the granite surface finish but also the fine particle emission and the chip removal mechanism.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Simcox NJ, Lofgren D, Leons J, Camp J (1999) Silica exposure during granite countertop fabrication. Appl Occup Environ Hyg 14(9):577–582

  2. Phillips ML, Johnson DL, Johnson AC (2013) Determinants of respirable silica exposure in stone countertop fabrication: a preliminary study. J Occup Environ Hyg 10(7):368–373

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Verma DK, Vacek PM, des Tombe K, Finkelstein M, Branch B, Gibbs GW et al (2011) Silica exposure assessment in a mortality study of vermont granite workers. J Occup Environ Hyg 8(2):71–79

  4. Steenland K, Ward E (2014) Silica: a lung carcinogen. CA Cancer J Clin 64(1):63–69

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Sánchez DN, Rodríguez-Rey A, Suárez del Río LM, Díez Sarriá I, Calleja L, Ruiz de Argandoña VG (2005) The influence of rock microhardness on the sawability of Pink Porrino granite (Spain). Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 42(1):161–166

  6. Xie J, Tamaki J (2007) Parameterization of micro-hardness distribution in granite related to abrasive machining performance. Mater Process Technol 186(1–3):253–258

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Xu XP, Huang H, Li Y (2003) Material removal mechanisms in diamond grinding of granite, part 1: the morphological changes of granite from sawing to grinding. Key Eng Mater 250:215–221

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Min Z, Xiying L (2010) Experimental research on cutting force with diamond mill cutting granite. in 2010 Int. Conf. on Mechanic Automation and Control Engineering (MACE). IEEE, Piscataway

    Google Scholar 

  9. Yavuz H, Ozkahraman T, Demirdag S (2011) Polishing experiments on surface quality of building stone tiles. Constr Amp Build Mater 25(4):1707–1711

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Yilmaz NG, Goktan RM, Gasan H, Celik O N (2013) Particle size distribution and shape characterization of the chips produced during granite machining in relation to process forces and specific energy. Part Sci Technol 31(3):277–286

  11. Huang H, Xu XP (2004) Interfacial interactions between diamond disk and granite during vertical spindle grinding. Wear 256(6):623–629

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Huang H, Li Y, Shen JY, Zhu HM, Xu XP (2002) Micro-structure detection of a glossy granite surface machined by the grinding process. in 10th Int. Manufacturing Conf., China (IMCC 2002). Elsevier, Fujian

  13. Li Y, Huang H, Xu XP (2006) Gloss formation and its relationship with roughness in granite grinding. Key Eng Mater 304–305:413–416

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Rocha-Parise M, Santos LMB, Damoiseaux J GM C, Bagatin E, Lido AV, Torello CO et al (2013) Lymphocyte activation in silica-exposed workers. Int J Hyg Environ Health 217(4–5):586–591

  15. Liu Y, Steenland K, Rong Y, Hnizdo E, Huang X, Zhang H et al (2013) Exposure-response analysis and risk assessment for lung cancer in relationship to silica exposure: a 44-year cohort study of 34,018 workers. Am J Epidemiol 178(9):1424–1433

  16. Ahmad I, Khan MI, Patil G (2011) Nanotoxicity of occupational dust generated in granite stone saw mill. in 2011 International Conference on Nanoscience, Technology and Societal Implications. IEEE, Piscataway

    Google Scholar 

  17. Kouam J, Songmene V, Balhoul A (2013) Experimental investigation on PM2.5 particle emission during polishing of granite. Health 5(10 A2):29–35. doi:10.4236/health.2013.510A2004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Preston FW (1927) The theory and design of plate glass polishing. Soc Glass Technol J 11(42):214–256

    Google Scholar 

  19. SAE- Society of Automotive Engineers (1988) Manual on design and manufacture of coned disk springs (Belleville Springs) and spring washers, 1st edn. SAE, Warrendale, 35 p

    Google Scholar 

  20. Belkhir N, Bouzid D, Herold V (2009) Determination of the friction coefficient during glass polishing. Tribol Lett 33(1):55–61

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Yaonan C, Li L, Haiting W, Mingyang W, Yizhi L (2014) Investigations on the dust distribution characteristics of dry milling using inserts with various groove profiles. Int J Adv Manuf Technol 74(1–4):551–562

  22. Pozzi R, De Barardis B, Paoletti L, Guastadisegni C (2003) Inflammatory mediators induced by coarse (PM2.5-10) and fine (PM2.5) urban air particles in RAW 264.7 cells. Toxicology 183:143–254

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. École de Technologie Supérieure (ÉTS), Montreal, Canada

    M. N. Saidi, V. Songmene & J. Kouam

  2. Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST), Montreal, Canada

    A. Bahloul

Authors
  1. M. N. Saidi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. V. Songmene
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. Kouam
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. A. Bahloul
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to V. Songmene.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Saidi, M.N., Songmene, V., Kouam, J. et al. Experimental investigation on fine particle emission during granite polishing process. Int J Adv Manuf Technol 81, 2109–2121 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-015-7303-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-015-7303-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation