Influence of graphene filler on surface quality of hybrid composite during AWJM

Abstract

ABSTRACT Surface quality is an important output measure in all the machining processes. In this research, cotton and viscose fabrics were used as a reinforcement, graphene was used as a filler (1.5, 3, 4.5 weight percentage (wt. %)) for the development of hybrid composite using compression molding process with hand layup techniques. The machinability of the prepared hybrid composite was studied using the Abrasive Water Jet Machining (AWJM) process. The effect on AWJM input parameters of water pressure (P), nozzle transverse speed (v), and abrasive flow rate (m) over the surface roughness (Ra) have also been studied using Design of Experiments (DoE) with Taguchi analysis. A better surface quality was obtained for the addition of 4.5 wt. % of graphene filler in the hybrid composite with the optimized AWJM process parameters of 250 MPa of P, 60 mm/min of v, and 200 g/min of m.