An Investigation on Cutting of the MWCNTs-Doped Composite Plates by AWJ

In this study, cutting of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)-doped composite sheets by abrasive water jet machining (AWJM) and the effects of the water jet on cut composite materials were analyzed. The influence of MWCNTs doping to glass fiber-reinforced polymer composite plates was investigated. In addition, mechanical properties of doped composite and the effects of cutting by AWJM method were determined. It has been found that the addition of nanoparticles to layered glass fiber composite materials plays an effective role in the strength of the material and affects the abrasive water jet (AWJ) cutting quality. Additionally, composite materials were drilled using different water jet cutting parameters such as cutting speed, fixed nozzle diameter, cutting pressure and abrasive garnet. The entry–exit hole diameter, kerf, delamination, splintering, burring, thickness and hardness change were investigated. As the cutting speed increased, rotational slip, cutting start point, circularity and circular error increased. The thickness of the composites cut by water jet method increased and surface hardness decreased due to delamination. As the cutting speed increased, the hole inlet and outlet dimensions increased, which leads to an increased in size of the kerf.