Abrasive Jet Machining of Incense Stick Ash Filled Luffa-Human Hair Based Sustainable Bio-composite Using Taguchi Based GRA

Abstract

In this research, a new class of partially biodegradable epoxy-based sustainable bio-composite is developed in house by using blend of luffa cylindrica (LC) and short human hair (SHH) as fiber and diverse weight proportions (0, 5, 10,15 and 20 wt.%) of incense stick ash (ISA) as filler through the conventional hand lay-up method. The presently developed hybrid natural fiber composites are characterized for their density and porosity and subsequently, investigated for their machinability through abrasive jet machining (AJM) process. Two grits of silicone carbide (SiC, 300 µm and 600 µm) and combination of aluminum oxide (Al2O3) and glass powder (90 µm) are used as the abrasives. The material removal rate (MRR) and surface roughness (Ra) of the machined surface are acquired according to Taguchi design of experiment. The significance of the control factors (type of composite, gas pressure, standoff distance and type of abrasive) is identified through ANOVA and ideal factor setting for optimum individual responses are established. Moreover, simultaneous optimization of multi performance characteristics is also attempted through Grey Relational Analysis (GRA) method. The outcomes from the confirmation runs showed an improvement in the predicted optimal machining parameters for individual as well as the multiple performance characteristic in AJM of the newly developed ISA filled LC-SHH fiber polymer composite.

Keywords

• luffa and human-hair fiber
• incense stick ash filler
• abrasive jet machining
• taguchi methodology
• anova
• gray relation analysis