Machinability of Different Wood-Plastic Composites during Peripheral Milling

The aim of this study was to improve the machinability of wood-plastic composites by exploring the effects of different wood-plastic composites on machinability. In particular, the effects of milling with cemented carbide cutters were assessed by investigating cutting forces, cutting temperature, surface quality, chip formation, and tool wear. The cutting parameters determined to yield an optimal surface quality were rake angle 2°, cutting speed 9.0 m/s, feed per tooth 0.3 mm, and cutting depth 1.5 mm. In these optimized milling conditions, the wood-plastic composite with polypropylene exhibited the highest cutting forces, cutting temperature, and tool wear, followed by polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride wood-plastic composites. Two wear patterns were determined during wood-plastic composite machining, namely chipping and flaking. Due to the different material composition, semi-discontinuous ribbon chips and continuous ribbon chips were generated from the machining process of wood-plastic composites with polypropylene and polyethylene, respectively. The wood-plastic composite with polyvinyl chloride, on the other hand, formed needle-like chips. These results contribute to a theoretical and practical basis for improved wood-plastic composite machining in industrial settings.Validerad;2022;Nivå 2;2022-02-11 (hanlid);Part of special issue: Manufacturing and Mechanics of Materials;Funder: National Natural Science Foundation of China (31971594); Natural Science Foundation of the Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions of China (21KJB220009), Technology Innovation Alliance of Wood/Bamboo Industry (TIAWBI2021‐08); Self‐Made Experimental and Teaching Instruments of Nanjing Forestry University in 2021 (nlzzyq202101); International Cooperation Joint Laboratory for Production, Education, Research and Application of Ecological Health Care on Home Furnishing