Machinability Studies on Al2014-Sic-Gr Hybrid Composite

Abstract-Aluminium alloys are replaced by Aluminium matrix composites now a days in many fields like aerospace, automobile, defense and engineering industries due to their light weight and corrosion resistance. The mechanical properties of the composite can be improved by the addition of reinforcements like SiC, Al2O3, B4C, TiC and Gr etc. The present work is to investigate the effect of silica carbide (SiC) and graphite (Gr) particles in addition to Al2014 on the cutting forces and surface roughness on Al2014-SiC-Gr hybrid composite. The hybrid composites with Al2014, 5 wt.% SiC-X wt. % Gr (X=0, 2, 4 and 6) were prepared by stir casting process. Hardness tests were conducted on the prepared composites. The cutting speed, feed and weight % of Graphite were used as the process parameters whereas the cutting force, surface roughness was selected as performance characteristics. Cutting forces were evaluated while conducting turning operations with the help of 3 component cutting force dynamometer (kistler make). Surface roughness was measured with the help of talysurf (Hobson make) after every pass with a cut off length 0.08mm. From the results it was observed that the increase in graphite content decreases the cutting forces and surface roughness.