Sains Malaysiana 50(9)(2021): 2727-2741

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2021-5009-19

Machining of Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer Composites: A Preliminary Investigation of High Power Fibre Laser

(PemesinanKomposit Polimer Bertetulang Gentian Karbon: Penyelidikan Awal Laser Serat Berkuasa Tinggi)

SHARIZAL AHMAD SOBRI^1,2,8*, ROBERT HEINEMANN², DAVID WHITEHEAD², NORSHAH AFIZI SHUAIB^3,8, MOHD FAISAL ABDUL HAMID⁴, MAZLAN MOHAMED¹, WAN OMAR ALI SAIFUDDIN WAN ISMAIL⁵, TEO PAO TER¹, MOHAMAD NAJMI MASRI¹, MOHAMAD BASHREE ABU BAKAR¹, ERWEEN ABD RAHIM⁶ & WAN AHMAD NAJMUDDIN WAN SAIDIN⁷

¹Advanced Material Research Cluster, Faculty of Bioengineering and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan Jeli Campus, 17600 Jeli, Kelantan Darul Naim, Malaysia

²Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, The University of Manchester, Sackville Street Building, Sackville Street, Manchester M1 3WE, United Kingdom

³Faculty of Mechanical Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Pauh Putra Campus, 02600 Arau, Perlis Indera Kayangan, Malaysia

⁴Department of Aerospace Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

⁵Faculty of Innovative Design and Technology, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Gong Badak Campus, 21300 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu Darul Iman, Malaysia

⁶Faculty of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, 86400 Parit Raja, Batu Pahat, Johor Darul Takzim, Malaysia

⁷Faculty of Engineering, DRB-HICOM University of Automotive Malaysia, DRB-HICOM Automotive Complex, Lot 1449, PT 2204, Peramu Jaya Industrial Area, 26607 Pekan, Pahang Darul Makmur, Malaysia

⁸Geopolymer and Green Technology, Centre of Excellence (CEGeoGTech), Universiti Malaysia Perlis, 01000 Kangar, Perlis Indera Kayangan, Malaysia

Received: 14 October 2020/Accepted: 18 January 2021

ABSTRACT

Carbon fibre reinforced polymer composites (CFRP) is one of the common materials used in machining by various manufacturing industries. The most persistent challenges during the machining, both concerning the consistency of machined surfaces and the properties of the material, are the difficulties such as fibre pull-out, delamination, and decomposition of the material matrix. This preliminary research highlights the laser machining of thick CFRP using a fibre laser of more than 1 kW. Laser machining experiments have been conducted to examine the ability of the fibre laser machine to cut thick CFRP through their high-quality laser beams. Based on the results, the study showed how the heat affected zone can be reduced when the higher cooling period is used. The effects of modulated beam mode include substantial reductions in HAZ compared with other experimental results. In all experimental attempts, substantial damage has occurred. The results are important in assessing the relationship between laser machining parameters and cutting results.

Keywords: Carbon fibre reinforced polymer composite (CFRP); heat-affected zone (HAZ); laser; machining parameters

ABSTRAK

Komposit polimer bertetulang gentian karbon (CFRP) adalah salah satu bahan popular yang digunakan oleh pelbagai industri pembuatan dalam operasi pemesinan. Kesukaran seperti penarikan serat, peleburan dan penguraian bahan matriks merupakan masalah berterusan yang sering berlaku semasa proses pemesinan dengan kedua-duanya mempengaruhi kualiti permukaan mesin dan sifat bahan. Penyelidikan awal ini menekankan pemesinan laser CFRP tebal dengan menggunakan lebih daripada 1 kW laser serat. Uji kaji pemesinan laser telah dilakukan untuk menilai kemampuan mesin laser serat untuk memotong CFRP tebal kerana kualiti pancaran lasernya yang unggul. Berdasarkan hasil kajian, sebuah parameter baru telah ditemukan, yang membuktikan pengurangan zon terjejas haba (HAZ) dengan ketara ketika waktu penyejukan yang lebih tinggi dikenakan. Penemuan mod balok yang dimodulasi optimis dibandingkan dengan hasil uji kaji lain dan HAZ dapat dikurangkan dengan ketara. Kerosakan besar telah berlaku dalam semua percubaan. Penemuan ini berguna dalam menggambarkan hubungan antara parameter pemesinan laser dan hasil pemotongan.

Kata kunci: Komposit polimer bertetulang gentian karbon (CFRP); laser; parameter pemesinan; zon terjejas haba (HAZ)

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*Corresponding author; email: sharizal.s@umk.edu.my