Optimization of laser processing parameters on the width of heat affected zone of carbon fiber reinforced polymer

Abstract

ABSTRACT Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) has the advantages of light weight and high strength, it is one of the main materials for the development of lightweight manufacturing industry. However, conventional machining methods involve high cost and low efficiency, restricting development. Laser machining is an ideal method to process CFRP by the interaction between laser and materials. In this paper, the relationship between laser power, laser frequency, scanning speed and the width of heat affected zone(HAZ) is obtained by response surface methodology (RSM), and a mathematical model is established. Taking the established model as the objective function, genetic algorithm is used to optimize the process parameters. The optimal combination of parameters is laser power 6 W, laser frequency 515 kHz, scanning speed 2220.2 mm/s-2231.8 mm/s, minimum heat affected zone width 52 µm. Through sensitivity analysis, it is found that laser power has the greatest influence on heat affected zone. The influence rules and causes of laser power and laser frequency, laser power and scanning speed on the width of HAZ are analyzed.