Machinability Characterization of Ecodesigned Hybrid Aluminium Composites

Abstract

Machinability is expressed as the ease with which a material can undergo machining operations with gratifying surface finish and persistent material removal rate. In general, alumiAnium composites are observed to be difficult to machine due to infusion of hard reinforcement particles into metal matrix. In present study, machinability attributes of Al7075-T6/ Eggshell/SiC/Al₂O₃composites (Al7075-T6 as matrix material infused with three reinforcement materials: eggshell particles with average particle size ~ 60 µm; wt. % 0.5, 1and 1.5, Silicon Carbide particles with average particle size ~ 65 µm; wt. % 1, 1.5 and 2, and Aluminium Oxide particles with averageparticle size ~90 µm; wt. % 1.5, 2 and 2.5,) synthesized through electromagnetic stir casting route, have been investigated with fixed machining parameters (Cutting speed : 6 m/min, Depth of cut: 1mm, Feed rate: 0.3 mm/second and Test duration: 30 seconds). With enhanced mechanical attributes, the machinability of synthesized aluminium composites was realized to remain uninfluenced in terms of proportionate material removal rate (material removal rate of specimen S8: 0.0040g/sec and of specimen S0: 0.0043g/sec) and comparable surface roughness (average surface roughness of specimen S8: 1.02 μm and of specimen S0: 1.15μm). Disposal of eggshells has been listed worldwide as one of the worst environmental problems, hence eggshell powder has been used as one of the reinforcement in order to synthesize ecodesigned hybrid aluminium composites.