Abstract
This study focuses on the assessment of the surface quality of ground unidirectional carbon fibrereinforced plastics (CFRP) under different grinding conditions including the effect of fibre orientation. The mechanisms of surface defect formation were characterized by SEM, optical microscope and quantitative evaluation of surface roughness. It was found that the surface damage occurred mostly as micro cracking in matrix, fibre fracturing and fibre-matric debonding. The results showed that fibre orientation and grinding depth had a strong influence on surface integrity achievable. The wheel and table speeds also affected the ground surface quality under certain fibre orientation. Howerver, there existed an optimal group of grinding parameters under which the subsurface damage could be minimized.
