Research on water jet cutting of polymer composites based on epoxy / waste fibres from coconut processing

This paper deals with a machining of polymer fibre composite materials reinforced with a waste from coconut processing by means of an unconventional technology, i.e. an abrasive water jet (AWJ) and a water jet (WJ). Short and long fibres from the waste/a by-product from the coconut processing were used as the reinforcement within the research. The composite material was made by a vacuum infusion method. These composite materials are difficult to cut by another cutting method. They are used as a design upper/view element which is applied on a basic material, e.g. chipboards. These materials have to be cut precisely according to requirements of a shape and dimensions of a final product, e.g. for furniture industry. The paper deals with a study of an influence of the abrasive water jet and the water jet at their impact on a surface of the machined polymer fibre composite material. SEM analysis proved that a considerable destruction of the material occurred at the water jet outlet, i.e. on a bottom side of the cut, under unsuitable cutting conditions and at an absence of the abrasive grains which is an undesirable factor for following applications of these materials.