Micro Electro Discharge Machining of Polymer/Carbon Nanotube Composites

Abstract

This study investigates the feasibility of the micro electro discharge machining (micro-EDM) method to machine carbon nanotube(CNT)-reinforced polymer composites in the micro scale. CNT-based polymer composites were fabricated using solution casting, in which CNTs were dispersed in the polymer-solvent solution via high energy sonication, followed by precipitation and hot pressing. CNT loading was varied to investigate the effect of electrical conductivity of nanocomposite on machinability. The material removal mechanism for micro-EDM of CNTreinforced composite was investigated experimentally. Micro size holes were created on the CNT-reinforced composite using the micro-EDM technology. Micro-EDM was found to be an ideal process for obtaining burr-free machined micron-size features in CNT-reinforced nanocomposites, and to be an alternative fabrication method to micro-molding.