Influence of waste Phaeophyceae filler on green cutting with water jets in jute fibre reinforced polymer biocomposites

Abstract

Abstract As reinforcement in polymer composites, natural fibers have been widely used across multiple industries including transportation, aerospace, and medicine. Conventional machining methods produced delamination in polymeric composites. Abrasive water jet machining (AWJ) is a proven technology to machine polymeric composites with finished shapes. In this work jute fiber-reinforced polymer composites are prepared using a hand layup process. A certain percentage of marine algae species naturally produce toxins, which can be harmful to animals that consume them. When algal blooms take place, they can trigger the increase of toxic algae species. Phaeophyceae (brown algae) filler with 0, 3, and 6 wt. % were used as fillers in epoxy resin. Holes were made on the fabricated samples using AWJ. The effect of parameters such as traverse speed, stand-off distance (SOD), and water jet pressure on material removal rate (MRR) and surface roughness (Ra) was investigated. The experimental research shows that the addition of Phaeophyceae powder increased the MRR significantly. Jute fiber-reinforced polymer composites filled with 3 wt.% Phaeophyceae filler improved the MRR up to 12. % And reduced surface roughness up to 8% as compared with other composite samples. Also in this investigation, it was observed that pressure (P) and SOD are the influential parameters that affect the material removal rate and surface roughness significantly in brown algae-filled jute fiber biocomposites.