An investigation into the impact of graphene nanoplatelets reinforced with glass fiber reinforced polymer composite on the hole quality using abrasive water jet drilling

Abstract

Glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) composites are being increasingly used in various industries owing to their low cost, lightweight, and impressive mechanical properties. For the present study, composites were fabricated with various weight percentages of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs), i.e., 0, 0.125, 0.25, 0.375, and 0.5 wt%, which were mixed with epoxy resin of GFRP. Characteristics such as flexural strength, interlaminar shear strength (ILSS), and tensile strength of the prepared composites were tested, which established that reinforcement of 0.25 wt% of GNPs ensures optimum properties in the composite. The GNPs, loaded with 0.375 and 0.5 wt% agglomerated, on the other hand, showed interface‐governed failure. The influence of machining factors, such as wt% of GNPs, jet pressure, and traverse rate, were also studied to assess the hole quality of the composite samples, machined by abrasive water jet (AWJ). Subsequently, machining characteristics of the GNPs loaded GFRP composites are explored in detail using AWJ drilling in terms of surface roughness (Ra), kerf angle (KA), and entry and exit delamination factor (DF). The AWJ machining outcomes demonstrated that the incorporation of GNPs significantly influences the machining response of the composites. The Ra, KA, entry, and exit DF of composite laminates reduce with advancement in GNPs loadings. In addition, the surface of the drilled holes was characterized using FESEM analysis.

Hole quality evaluation for abrasive water jet drilling of GF/Al mesh reinforced epoxy hybrid composites

“…As demonstrated in Equation (), 19 The kerf angle can be defined as the difference between the top and bottom diameters of the drilled hole divided by the specimen thickness. Figure 2B 48 shows a simplified representation of the kerf geometry of a drilled composite using AWJ cutting. where t is the specimen thickness, and and represent the top and bottom of the kerf diameter, respectively.…”

“…Consequently, it results in a significant kerf taper angle. 19 The top kerf size, bottom kerf size, specimen thickness, and K a values were calculated as an average for each of the experimental runs presented in Table 4.…”

“…The cutting tool and the part being processed are in direct contact during traditional machining techniques such as drilling and milling. Direct contact frequently results in the creation of heat, concentrated stress, tool wear, and additional issues that affect the hole quality 19,20 . Common quality issues, including delamination, fiber breakage, and fiber pull‐out are caused by traditional cutting tools 20 .…”

“…Direct contact frequently results in the creation of heat, concentrated stress, tool wear, and additional issues that affect the hole quality. 19,20 Common quality issues, including delamination, fiber breakage, and fiber pull-out are caused by traditional cutting tools. 20 Researchers have been investigating non-traditional machining techniques to reduce these defects.…”

Demystifying the role of graphene nanoplatelets percentage and sonication duration on the mechanical properties of the glass fabric/graphene nanoplatelets hybrid nano‐composite

“…The inclusion of fillers in the matrix was a convenient and effective method to enhance the mechanical and multifunctional characteristics of composites. [3][4][5] An extensive literature has developed on graphite derivatives such as graphene nanoplatelets (GnPs) and graphene oxide (GO), which have excellent mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties because of their 2-D layered structures. [6] GnPs are made up of a few graphene layers and have properties that are similar to monolayer graphene.…”