Microwave cutting glass and ceramics based on thermal controlled fracture method has gained much attention recently for its advantages in lower energy-consumption and higher efficiency than conventional processing method. However, the irregular crack-propagation is problematic in this procedure, which hinders the industrial application of this advanced technology. In this study, the irregular crack-propagation is summarized as the unstable propagation in the initial stage, the deviated propagation in the middle stage, and the non-penetrating propagation in the end segment based on experimental work. Method for predicting the unstable propagation in the initial stage has been developed by combining analytical models with thermal-fracture simulation. Experimental results show good agreement with the prediction results, and the relative deviation between them can be <5% in cutting of some ceramics. The mechanism of deviated propagation and the non-penetrating propagation have been revealed by simulation and theoretical analysis. Since this study provides effective methods to predict unstable crack-propagation in the initial stage and understand the irregular propagation mechanism in the whole crack-propagation stage in microwave cutting ceramics, it is of great significance to the industrial application of thermal controlled fracture method for cutting ceramic materials using microwave.
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