Analysis of Characteristics of Surface Roughness of Machined CFRP Composites

Measuring and characterizing of surface roughness of machined surfaces of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites are difficult due to the occurrence of special surface damages (delamination, uncut fibers, fiber pull-outs or micro-cracks, etc.). The main objective of the present study is to analyze the characteristics of surface roughness of machined unidirectional CFRP in detail. Numerous conventional drilling, helical milling, and edge trimming experiments were carried out with different cutting tools in order to analyze the influence of them on the average surface roughness (Ra), on the roughness depth (Rz) and on the Rz /Ra parameter. The surface roughness was measured by a Mitutoyo SJ-400 contact profilometer and an Alicona Infinite Focus confocal microscope. The usability of the contact profilometer was experimentally tested and compared its results with the results of the confocal microscope. Experimental results show that the contact profilometer is suitable for measuring surface roughness of CFRP, furthermore, values of Rz /Ra of drilled and edge trimmed surfaces of unidirectional CFRP are changing in a wide interval: from 5 to 14 μm/μm due to the special surface damages. Based on this research, the machinability analysis of CFRP is suggested to be extended to the analysis of the Rz /Ra parameter