Machinability of Al-2024 reinforced with Al2O3 and or B4C

Abstract EN

This paper presents the results of an experimental investigation on the machinability of Al-2024 reinforced with Al2O3 and/or B4C (MMC) prepared by stir casting.

These composites were characterized by micro-hardness analysis.

The effect of reinforcements ( 20 wt % Al2O3, B4C, and the combination of Al2O3 and B4C ) and machining parameters such as cutting speed, feed rate, and depth of cut on flank wear, surface roughness, and cutting force were analyzed during turning operations.

From the test results, we observe that B4C reinforcement added produces higher tool wear, surface roughness and minimizes the cutting forces then the hybrid of Al2O3 and B4C in second degree and finally Al2O3.

When machining the MMCs with high speed causes rapid tool wear due to generation of high temperature in the machining interface.

The rate of flank wear, surface roughness , and cutting force are high when machining with a higher depth of cut.

An increase in feed rate increases the flank wear, cutting force and surface roughness.-