A review on epoxy granite reinforced polymer composites in machine tool structures – Static, dynamic and thermal characteristics

Abstract

Machine tool structures produced with Epoxy Granite reinforced polymer composites (EGPCs) have gained prominence in recent years and have replaced conventional cast iron materials and other metals due to its remarkable damping characteristics. However, machine tool structures manufactured with EGPCs tends to exhibit limited strength, stiffness and stability. Such challenges in EGPCs are resolved by incorporation of steel as additional reinforcement and enhanced mechanical properties are observed in these hybrid machine‐tool structures. Hybrid epoxy granite machine tool structures with enhanced mechanical performance are prone to thermal errors resulting in machining inaccuracies and limited performance. Thermal errors induced in machine tool structures could be attributed due to effect of temperature distribution and displacements at the Tool Center Point (TCP). This review work carried out focuses predominantly on design methods adopted in resolving the challenges identified in development of machine tool structures and further analyses results of several polymer concrete‐based machine tool structures with regard to static, dynamic and thermal characteristics. Several review works conducted earlier have discussed the results of static and dynamic characteristics, whereas this review work provides additional information on thermal based errors induced and discusses the methods adopted in compensation of thermal errors. In this review paper, research studies pertaining to static and dynamic characteristics of different machine tool structures performed in last three decades have been discussed and a wholistic information is provided in relation with static, dynamic and thermal characteristics and properties toward developing a machine tool structure with a novel, newer class or alternative materials.

Experimental investigation on microhardness, surface roughness, and white layer thickness of dry EDM

“…In the Taguchi analysis, the global optimum parameter settings were not predicted to optimize the threemachining performance. Many multi-criteria optimization techniques have been applied to predict the global solution [42][43][44][45][46][47]. The weighted product method (WPM) is one of the multi-criteria optimization techniques to solve the conflicted multiple response problem [48,49].…”

Multi-criteria optimization on friction stir welding of aluminum composite (AA5052-H32/B4C) using titanium nitride coated tool

“…A study investigates the optimization of reinforcement in greener composite materials for structural applications [21][22][23] . Multi-objective optimization techniques were used to assess the strength, stiffness, and stability of epoxy granite polymer composites [24,25].…”

Rational design of high‐performance epoxy/expandable microsphere foam with outstanding mechanical, thermal, and dielectric properties

“…Epoxy, as a typical type of thermosetting resin, is famous for its excellent mechanical strength, 1 electrical insulation, 2 chemical resistance, 3 and especially well processing capacity 4 . Epoxy resins have been extensively used as the matrix resins to realize composite bars, 5 castings, 6 laminates, 7 adhesives, 8 coatings, 9–11 and microspheres 12 .…”