Relationship between surface roughness and subsurface crack depth during grinding of optical glass BK7

Subsurface damages induced by grinding strongly influence the mechanical strength and optical quality of optical glasses. It is meaningful to rapid evaluate the depth of subsurface cracking through the measurement of surface roughness under different grinding parameters. Based on the features of surface and subsurface cracks as well as the kinetic analysis of surface grinding, the relationship between surface roughness and subsurface crack depth was established. Surface grinding experiments for optical glass BK7 were conducted. Utilizing optical microscope, optical profiling system and polishing-etching technique, the dependence of surface roughness and subsurface crack depth on grinding parameters was systematically analyzed. The predicted model of the relationship between surface roughness and subsurface crack depth was compared with experimental results. It was found that the relationship between surface roughness and subsurface crack depth is influenced by the half apex angle of abrasive grain as well as the magnitude of extra grain extrusion.