1 Introduction
2 Fabrication and properties of SiCp/Al matrix composites
2.1 Fabrication
2.2 Properties
3 Conventional machining of SiCp/Al matrix composites
3.1 Turning
3.1.1 Tool selection
3.1.2 Tool wear mechanism
3.1.3 Cutting force, chip formation, and simulation
3.1.4 Surface integrity and machining efficiency
Tool | Matrix | SiC fraction | Parameter | Remark |
---|---|---|---|---|
PCD [119] | Al 356 | 5% (mass fraction) | Spindle speed 1200 r/min, feed rate 0.25 mm/r, depth of cut 1.0 mm | Surface roughness 2.96 μm, rMRR 37.79 cm3/min |
HSS [120] | Al 7075 | 10% (mass fraction) | Feed rate range of 0.4–0.8 mm/r, depth of cut range 0.08–0.16 mm, cutting speed range of 60–100 m/min | Cutting forces are independent of cutting speed |
Carbide insert [121] | Al 7075 | 10% (mass fraction) | Cutting speed range of 180–220 m/min, feed rate range of 0.1–0.3 mm/r, and depth of cut range of 0.5–1.5 mm | Optimum surface oughness |
PCD [122] | Al 7075 | 10% (mass fraction) | Low feed rate (0.05 mm/r) and high cutting speed (170 m/min) | The best surface finish |
Carbide insert [123] | Al 7075 | 15% (mass fraction) | Cutting speed 90 m/min, feed rate 0.15 mm/r, depth of cut 0.20 mm, nose radius 0.42 mm | The maximum value of tool life (6.6 min) |
K20 series [124] | Al 6025 | 20% (volume fraction) | Narrow region around 150 °C and 150 m/min as the optimum domain for machining | Tool: a thick Al2O3 layer on top of Ti(C,N) layer |
3.2 Milling
3.2.1 Tool wear
3.2.2 Cutting force
3.2.3 Surface integrity, machining efficiency, and optimization
Tool | Matrix | SiC (volume fraction) | Parameter | Remark |
---|---|---|---|---|
End mill cutter (ϕ 16 mm) with 2 uncoated cemented carbide inserts [136] | A356 aluminium alloy | 10% | Cutting speed 200 m/min, feed rate 0.1 mm/min, depth of cut 0.2 mm | The minimal surface roughness and cutting forces |
Three different cutting tools (uncoated, multi-layered and nano TiAlN coated) [135] | 123 L aluminium alloy | 10% SiC under 32 µm | Uncoated tool: cutting speed 60 m/min, feed rate 0.04 mm/r; multi-layered tool: cutting speed 78 m/min, feed rate 0.12 mm/r | Multi-layered tool 0.302 µm |
Carbide insert with a 0.8 mm uncoated tool nose radius [160] | Al7075 alloy | 40% | Cutting speed 170 m/min, depth of cut 0.8 mm and a feed per tooth 0.08 mm/tooth. | Best surface quality |
Carbide coated cutting tool inserts (AXMT 0903 PER-EML TT8020) [43] | Al7075 alloy | 5%, 10%, 15% | Spindle speed 1000 r/min, feed 0.03 mm/r, depth of cut 1 mm and 5% SiC by weight | The best combination |
PCD blade with carbide substrate [161] | Al6063 aluminum | 65% | Cutting speed 300 m/min with a tool refreshment | Surface Ra less than 0.4 µm |
3.3 Drilling
Drill | Matrix | Fraction | Parameter | Remark |
---|---|---|---|---|
8 mm-KISTLER [178] | Al6063 | 10% | Spindle speed 560 r/min, feed 0.05 mm/r, point angle 90° | Torque and SR were considered as quality targets |
5 mm-solid carbide [174] | Al 2124 | 17%(volume fraction) | Feed rate 0.16 mm/r, spindle speed 260 r/min, drill point angle 130° | The minimum surface roughness obtained |
12 mm-HSS [181] | Al6063 | 15% | Cutting speed of 150.72 m/min, feed rate of 0.05 mm/r | Cutting environment water, soluble oil |
5 mm-solid carbide [168] | Al 2124 | 17%(volume fraction) | Point angles 130, spindle speed 1 330 r/min, feed rate 0.16 mm/r | Carbide tool better that HSS and TiN coated HSS |
10 mm-solid carbide [179] | LM25 | 15%(volume fraction) | Spindle speed 921.0 r/min, feed rate 0.258 mm/r | Metal emoval rate 5 579 mm3 /min, surface roughness 8.50 µm |
3 mm-HSS [182] | Al123 | 10%(mass fraction) | Cutting speed 20 m/min, feed rate 0.04 mm/r | Cryogenic treatment has positive effects on Ra |
5 mm-PCD [183] | A356/ | 20% | Cutting speed 50 m/s, feed 0.05 mm/r | PCD tool is perfectly compatible with cutting conditions |
3.4 Grinding
3.4.1 Surface grinding
3.4.2 Mill grinding, cylindrical grinding, and ductile-regime grinding
4 Nonconventional machining of SiCp/Al matrix composites
4.1 EDM
Tool | Matrix | Fraction | Parameter | Remark |
---|---|---|---|---|
Electrolytic copper electrode of 10 mm diameter [236] | Al 7075 | 0.5% SiC (mass fraction) | Voltage 47.34 V, pulse current 6 A, pulse on time 8 µs, Pulse on time 9.79 µs | MRR 1.196 g/min TWR 0.001 575 g/min Ra 10.648 µm |
Bundled electrode (ϕ 1.2 mm) [237] | Al 6061 | 5% SiC(volume fraction) | Current 13 A, pulse on time 700 µs, pulse on time 50 µs, flushing pressure 0.040 MPa | Die-sinking EDM |
Brass electrode of ϕ 2.7 mm [238] | Components (Al-92.7%, Si-7.0%, Mg-0.3%) | 10% SiC (volume fraction) | Current 15 A, pulse on time 1 ms, flushing pressure 0.014 MPa | Maximizing MRR and for minimizing TWR |
Copper rod with an array of 2 mm holes (multi-hole) [239] | 6061 Al | 15% SiC (volume fraction) | Electrode polarity negative, current 4 A, pulse on time 400 µs, pulse on time 10 µs, dielectic pressure 0.05 MPa | Die sinking EDM TWR was 9 mg/min and Ra was 4.78 µm |
Brass tool of 15 mm diameter and 60 mm length [240] | Fabricated by stir-casting process | 20% SiC | Current 5 A, pulse on time 100 µs, Duty cycle 70%, gap voltage 40 V | Die sinking EDM with positive polarity for electrode |
ϕ 12 mm copper and brass cylindrical electrodes [241] | LM25 | 25% (volume fraction) | Negative current 7.34 A, pulse duration 112 µs, positive: current 6.12 A, pulse duration 108 µs | Copper electrode, maximize MRR with minimum TWR, SR with brass is higher than with copper |