Machining Eco-Friendly Jute Fiber-Reinforced Epoxy Composites Using Specially Produced Cryo-Treated and Untreated Cutting Tools

Abstract

In recent years, consumers have become increasingly interested in natural, biodegradable and eco-friendly composites. Eco-friendly composites manufactured using natural reinforcing filling materials stand out with properties such as cost effectiveness and easy accessibility. For these reasons, in this research, a composite workpiece was specially manufactured using eco-friendly jute fibers. Two cost-effective cutting tools were specially produced to ensure high-quality machining of this composite workpiece. One of these specially manufactured cutting tools was subjected to DC&T (deep cryogenic treatment and tempering) processes to improve its performance. At the end of the research, when the lowest and highest Fd (delamination factor) values obtained with DC&T-T1 and T1 cutting tools were compared, it was observed that 5.49% and 6.23% better results were obtained with the DC&T-T1 cutting tool, respectively. From the analysis of the S/N (signal-to-noise) ratios obtained using Fd values, it was found that the most appropriate machining parameters for the composite workpiece used in this investigation were the DC&T-T1 cutting tool, a 2000 rev/min spindle speed and a 100 mm/min feed rate. Through ANOVAs (analyses of variance), it was discovered that the most significant parameter having an impact on the Fd values was the spindle speed, with a rate of 53.01%. Considering the lowest and highest Ra (average surface roughness) values obtained using DC&T-T1 and T1 cutting tools, it was seen that 19.42% and 16.91% better results were obtained using the DC&T-T1 cutting tool, respectively. In the S/N ratio analysis results obtained using Ra values, it was revealed that the most appropriate machining parameters for the composite workpiece used in this investigation were the DC&T-T1 cutting tool, a 2000 rev/min spindle speed and a 100 mm/min feed rate. In the ANOVAs, it was revealed that the most significant parameter having an effect on the Ra values was the feed rate at 37.86%.