Investigation into the End-Milling Parameters of Mg/B₄C Metal Matrix Composites

Abstract

The automotive, biomedical, and aerospace industries are attracted towards magnesium-based alloys and composites because they are among the lightest structural materials available and have significantly enhanced mechanical and physical characteristics. When it comes to precision and functional requirements, such materials need to be machined. The aim of this study was to investigate the machinability behavior of Mg/B4C metal matrix composite (MMC) through end-milling experiments. Different deformation behaviors of the composite were studied by varying the volume percentage of B4C reinforcement between 5% and 10%. Using a milling tool dynamometer, the cutting forces on the tool were examined for various milling parameters. Moreover, Talysurf roughness was used to analyze the machined surface under each cutting parameter, and scanning electron microscopy was used to study the chips produced under different cutting conditions.

Keywords

• Mg-B₄C composite
• milling
• cutting force
• surface roughness
• chip morphology