Material Removal Mechanism and Evaluation of Machined Surface Quality of SiCf/SiC Composites by Laser Ablation-assisted Milling

doi:10.3901/JME.2024.09.206

Abstract

Abstract: The high temperature resistance, high strength and light weight of SiC_f/SiC composites are required for modern aerospace components, and SiC_f/SiC composites have excellent comprehensive performance, but their high brittleness and anisotropy make it a challenge for high-performance manufacturing. Through the laser ablation pre-test, the physical phase composition and ablation mechanism of laser ablation products of SiCf/SiC composites are grasped, and the influence of laser parameters on the ablation properties is investigated. Through the comparison experiments of conventional milling and laser ablation-assisted milling, the material removal mechanisms of three different processing strategies, namely, conventional milling, partial ablation-milling and complete ablation-milling, are analysed, and the influence of the ablation layer ratio on the processing surface quality is investigated. It is shown that the laser ablation products are mainly composed of 3C-SiC and amorphous SiO₂. In conventional milling, macroscopic brittle fracture of fibres occurred, and machining defects such as multiple cracks and pits existed on the machined surface. In partial ablation-milling, fibre fracture is dominated by microscopic brittle fracture, and fibre pull-out and macroscopic brittle fracture occurred at a few locations. In the full ablation-milling process, microscopic brittle fracture of fibres occurred, and scale fracture of the matrix occurred. The quality of laser ablation-assisted milling machining is superior to conventional milling, and the surface roughness was essentially the same for partial ablation-milling and complete ablation-milling. The difference in cutting force between milling with low and high ablative layer percentage is small. Micro-macro brittle fracture dominated the fibres in the milling process with low ablative layer percentage; micro-brittle fracture occurred in most of the fibres in the milling process with high ablative layer percentage. In summary, partial ablation-milling and low ablative layer ratio are the preferred processing solutions.

Key words: SiC_f/SiC composite, laser-assisted milling, material removal mechanism, machining quality

CLC Number:

TH16

LI Han, ZHANG Cheng, CHEN Jie, AN Qinglong, CHEN Ming. Material Removal Mechanism and Evaluation of Machined Surface Quality of SiCf/SiC Composites by Laser Ablation-assisted Milling[J]. Journal of Mechanical Engineering, 2024, 60(9): 206-217.

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