3. Abrasive Water Jet Machining of Polymer Composites

This chapter presents the machining performance of green abrasive water jet machining process on polymer composites. Abrasive water jet machining (AWJM), a commonly known as green machining process and wood dust filler-based reinforced polymer (WDFRP) composites or green composites, is considered in this study. An experimental investigation is carried out based on Taguchi (L₉-OA) to analyze the sensitivity of green machining attributes [such as MRR, surface roughness (SR), and machining time (MT)] to the variation in process parameters like standoff distance (SoD), working pressure (WP), nozzle speed (NS), and abrasive grain size (AGS). Additionally, regression analysis and ANOVA are done to show the statistical significance of the green machining process. At last, MOORA method is used for the optimization of AWJM process parameters. Investigation result indicates that green machining process, i.e., AWJM process is adequate in the machining of green composites and produce high-quality parts with excellent productivity and less machining time. Optimal setting obtained is SoD (2 mm, level 2), WP (125 MPa, level 1), NS (300 mm/min, level 3), and AGS (70 mesh, level 1). Parameter SoD found more significance on the AWJM response in all the cases during the machining process. Confirmatory results for MRR, SR, MT are found closer to the experimental results and well within the considerable ranges and satisfactory.