The progress of the technology of promising new materials like ceramics carbides and nitrides is impeded by a lack of good methods to machine them. The researchers plan to develop a novel machining method based on the impact of very highspeed microdroplets. Water drop impact has a surprisingly large erosive effect. This phenomena can be explained by the fact that the stresses in the target are over twenty times larger than the stagnation pressure of the liquid. Analytical studies predict that, by adding a second phase of gas or solid, orders of magnitude still higher stresses can be reached. Based upon previous research experiences on the fracture of ultrasmall (nanoscale) particles and on the cutting effects of microdrops impacts at high velocity, the researchers plan to apply high-speed biphase microdrops for material removal and comminution, and for sonochemical destruction of toxic refractory chemicals produced by biphase microdrop impact. The first objective is to demonstrate the feasibility of this new tool for machining difficult to work materials. A further objective is to investigate potential application to the destruction of toxic and difficult to destroy chemicals.
