Zirconia ceramics are difficult-to-machine materials and their application are restricted as a result of the difficulty in precision machining due to their high brittleness and low fracture toughness. Against this problem

a tangential ultrasonic-assisted mirror grinding method was proposed. The effect of ultrasonic amplitude on the work-surface roughness

the grinding force and temperature

and the wear condition of grinding wheel with/without ultrasonic were studied. The results demonstrated that the mirror surface was successfully obtained on the zirconia ceramics workpiece by tangential ultrasonic-assisted grinding

and the work-surface roughness decreased by 43.8% to R

a

19.9nm at ultrasonic amplitud

e A

p–p

=4.66μm

compared with conventional grinding (A

p–p

=0). The normal grinding force decreased with the increase of ultrasonic amplitude

with the maximum decrease of 34%

but the rate gradually slowed down. The change trend of grinding temperature was similar with that of grinding force

showing the temperature at A

p–p

=4.66μm was lower than that without ultrasonic by 34.5%. In addition

the wear condition of grinding wheel was improved

reducing the falling off abrasive grains and extending the life of grinding wheel with ultrasonic.