The importance of material structure in the laser cutting of glass fiber reinforced plastic composites

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1995 · Journal of Engineering Materials and Technology; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2804364· OSTI ID:6542344

Caprino, G ^[1]; Tagliaferri, V ^[2]; Covelli, L ^[3]

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1. Univ. di Napoli (Italy). Dipt. di Ingegneria dei Materiali e della Produzione
2. Univ. di Salerno (Italy). Istituto di Ingegneria Meccanica
3. IMU-Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Milano (Italy)

A previously proposed micromechanical formula, aiming to predict the vaporization energy Q[sub v] of composite materials as a function of fiber and matrix properties and fiber volume ratio, was assessed. The experimental data, obtained on glass fiber reinforced plastic panels with different fiber contents cut by a medium power CO[sub 2] cw laser, were treated according to a procedure previously suggested, in order to evaluate Q[sub v]. An excellent agreement was found between experimental and theoretical Q[sub v] values. Theory was then used to predict the response to laser cutting of a composite material with a fiber content varying along the thickness. The theoretical predictions indicated that, in this case, the interpretation of the experimental results may be misleading, bringing to errors in the evaluation of the material thermal properties, or in the prediction of the kerf depth. Some experimental data were obtained, confirming the theoretical findings.

• OSTI ID: 6542344
• Journal Information: Journal of Engineering Materials and Technology; (United States), Vol. 117:1; ISSN 0094-4289
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
LASER BEAM MACHINING
GLASS
REINFORCED PLASTICS
CARBON DIOXIDE LASERS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
THEORETICAL DATA
DATA
GAS LASERS
INFORMATION
LASERS
MACHINING
MATERIALS
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PETROCHEMICALS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PLASTICS
POLYMERS
REINFORCED MATERIALS
SYNTHETIC MATERIALS
360601* - Other Materials- Preparation & Manufacture