Experimental studies on machining characteristics of hybrid aluminium metal matrix composite and carbon nano tubes added hybrid aluminium metal matrix composite

This paper discusses the comparative study on machining hybrid aluminium metal matrix composites (A16061-SiC-Al₂O₃) and carbon nano tubes (CNT) added hybrid MMCs. The ordinary hybrid composites were fabricated using the liquid metallurgy technique by stir casting method under which wt.6% of particulates SiC and Al₂O₃ were dispersed in the base matrix. The second CNT-hybrid composite is a woven alumina (Al₂O₃) fiber cloth with aligned CNTs grown on the surface of the fibers, impregnated with an epoxy, termed herein ´CNT-alumina´ composite. Both the obtained cast composites were turned using PCD cutting tool under various cutting conditions and their performances were clearly analyzed individually. The objective was to obtain a comparative study revealing minimum surface roughness of the test materials. The analysis done on the obtained test results reveal that the surface roughness of the CNT-alumina hybrid MMC was very much reduced than the ordinary hybrid MMCs.