Special Issue on Machining of CFRP Composites

抄録

There is a growing need for carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics (CFRP/CFRTP/GFRP) in the aircraft, aerospace, and automotive industries due to their high strength-to-weight ratio, high rigidity, and other features. Using these outstanding composites as machine components requires machining with the desired configuration, accuracy, and surface integrity. However, due to the composite structure of high-strength carbon fiber and the adhesive plastics, CFRP is difficult to machine without causing spalling or delamination, fluffing, fiber pullout, thermal degradation of the matrix resin, or other kinds of surface or subsurface damage. Rapid tool wear is also a serious problem that varies with the fiber orientation of the CFRP.

In order to avoid these problems, various innovative or careful approaches have been taken in drilling, trimming by milling, sawing, and grinding CFRP. Non-traditional machining techniques, including the use of abrasive waterjets, have been employed. In these techniques, the machining process, tool geometry, cooling system, and other machining parameters are optimized. In addition, the influence of surface integrity on the tensile and/or fatigue strength or on other mechanical properties of CFRP has also drawn interest.

In addition, regarded as a “machining process” in a broad sense, the press forming of continuous fiber reinforced thermoplastic (CFRTP) sheets is a promising technique used in the manufacture of structural components. In CFRTP forming, the effects that fiber layout naturally have on the deformation mechanisms must be understood, and temperature, pressure, speed, and stroke control should be optimized.

This special issue consists of twelve recent, high-quality research articles related to the machining of CFRP composite materials. These articles include one review and eleven technical papers on the topics of drilling, end milling, abrasive waterjet machining, and forming. The editors would like to express our deep appreciation to all the authors for their invaluable submissions and to the anonymous reviewers for their earnest efforts. Without these, this special issue could not have been published. We hope that further research on the machining of CFRP composites will make advances inspired by this special issue.