Machining of Fibre Reinforced Plastic Composite Materials

Abstract

Fibre reinforced plastic composite materials are difficult to machine because of the anisotropy and inhomogeneity characterizing their microstructure and the abrasiveness of their reinforcement components. During machining, very rapid cutting tool wear development is experienced, and surface integrity damage is often produced in the machined parts. An accurate selection of the proper tool and machining conditions is therefore required, taking into account that the phenomena responsible for material removal in cutting of fibre reinforced plastic composite materials are fundamentally different from those of conventional metals and their alloys. To date, composite materials are increasingly used in several manufacturing sectors, such as the aerospace and automotive industry, and several research efforts have been spent to improve their machining processes. In the present review, the key issues that are concerning the machining of fibre reinforced plastic composite materials are discussed with reference to the main recent research works in the field, while considering both conventional and unconventional machining processes and reporting the more recent research achievements. For the different machining processes, the main results characterizing the recent research works and the trends for process developments are presented.

Tensile Behavior of Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites Incorporating Nanomaterials after Exposure to Elevated Temperature

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Research and Development in Carbon Fibers and Advanced High-Performance Composites Supply Chain in Europe: A Roadmap for Challenges and the Industrial Uptake

“…At this scene, a European standardization network can be implemented, which can establish novel test methods, data-case characterization (virtual twins), and increase the availability of test data for Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs). By this, the application spectrum for CFs and CFRPs will be widened, due to reduced testing costs, and the development time will be shortened, due to the increased availability of material data and standardized procedures [64][65][66].…”

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“…This is due to the fact that it consists of different materials, which means that the machining is characterised by different material removal mechanisms [ 2 ]. Problems already arise at the cutting stage of the composite material because the reinforcement and matrix have different properties: the fibers are strong and brittle, while the matrix is weak and ductile [ 3 ]. As a result, the cutting forces are not continuous.…”