Machinability of glass fibre reinforced plastic (GFRP) composite using alumina-based ceramic cutting tools

This paper deals with the machining of glass fibre reinforced plastic (GFRP) composite material. GFRP composite material was fabricated in our laboratory using EE-glass fibre with unsaturated polyester resin. GFRP composite specimens were prepared using a filament winding process. Machining studies were carried out using two different alumina cutting tools: namely, a Ti[C, N] mixed alumina cutting tool (CC650) and a SiC whisker reinforced alumina cutting tool (CC670). The machining process was performed at different cutting speeds at constant feed rate and depth of cut. The performance of the alumina cutting tools was evaluated by measuring the flank wear and surface roughness of the machined GFRP composite material. An attempt is made to analyse the main wear mechanism of alumina cutting tools while machining GFRP composite material.