The machinability of Al/B ₄ C composites produced by hot pressing based on reinforcing the element ratio

Abstract In this study, the effects of the particle reinforcement ratio on cutting forces and surface roughness were investigated when milling particle-reinforced metal matrix composite (MMCp) produced by hot pressing with different cutting tools. Alumix 123 alloy as the matrix material and B ₄ C particles with an average size of 27 μm and 5%, 10% and 15% ratio as reinforcing elements were used for the manufacture of composite materials. The experiments were carried out in dry cutting conditions with four different cutting speeds, constant feed rate and depth of cut. Changes depending on the increased reinforcement ratio in cutting forces and surface roughness values were investigated; the effects of 10% B ₄ C reinforced composite on tool wear were also examined. It was observed that cutting forces increased with the increase in cutting speed and particle ratio with carbide cutting tools, and it was seen that the cutting forces on the cutting tools decreased when cutting speed decreased and the cutting forces increased as the reinforcement ratios increased. In addition, with increasing the cutting speed, the surface roughness of the machined surfaces of composite samples increased with the carbide tools, while the cubic boron nitride (CBN) tools have the opposite effect. While it was seen that flank and crater wear occurred on the cemented carbide cutting tools, abrasive, adhesive and other wear mechanism tools in addition to the main wear mechanism, no remarkable flank and crater wear occurred on CBN cutting tools.