Title: Usage of PCD tool in drilling of titanium/graphite hybrid composite laminate

Authors: D. Kim; C. Sturtevant; M. Ramulu

Addresses: School of Engineering and Computer Science, Washington State University Vancouver, 14204 NE Salmon Creek Ave., Vancouver, WA 98685, USA ' School of Engineering and Computer Science, Washington State University Vancouver, 14204 NE Salmon Creek Ave., Vancouver, WA 98685, USA ' Department Mechanical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA

Abstract: Titanium/graphite (TiGr) hybrid laminates are made of thin sheets of titanium adhesively bonded with core thermoplastic polymer matrix composite (PMC) plies. The material system is a potentially enabling technology, which satisfies the low structural weight fraction and long operational lifetime required for high speed civilian transportation systems. In this paper, a polycrystalline diamond (PCD) drill is used to drill the TiGr hybrid composites. The drilling experiments have been performed to investigate and report on the drilling forces and drilled hole quality. Hole dimensional errors, burr generations, and hole defects were investigated. Drilling feed is the most important process parameter in hole size errors, which seems to be due to the high elasticity of thermoplastic material system. Exit burr heights were increasing with increasing both the speed and feed. Exit damage such as titanium foil cap formation and titanium foil tearing does not occur during drilling by the PCD tools.

Keywords: drilling; PCD tools; titanium; PIXA-M polymer composite; hybrid composites; hole quality; drilling forces; titanium; graphite; hybrid laminates; thermoplastic PMC; polymer matrix composite plies; PCD drills; polycrystalline diamond; dimensional errors; burr generation; hole defects.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMMM.2013.053228

International Journal of Machining and Machinability of Materials, 2013 Vol.13 No.2/3, pp.276 - 288

Published online: 26 Dec 2013 *

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