Contribution of hybrid particles (BaSO4/fly ash) on the drilling and wear performance of flax/aleovera fiber composite

Abstract Natural fibers are being used for an extended period in automobiles, aviation, and marine applications. This work aims to study the prominent effect of barium sulfate (BaSO4) and fly ash particles on the mechanical, drilling, and wear performance of bidirectional woven flax and aloevera reinforced hybrid composite. The six different composites were fabricated with various weight percentages (0%, 2% and 5%) of BaSO4 and fly ash with a particle size of 150 µm. The mechanical characterization was carried out with ASTM specimens. The experimental design was carried out by a design expert 11, and the drilling performance was studied through a Kistler 9257B dynamometer. The varying input parameters and the consistent output parameters like thrust force, material removal rate (MRR), and circularity error were analyzed. The addition of BaSO4 and fly ash particles influenced hybrid composite properties. The maximum flexural strength of 92.58 MPa was observed in FAF6, enhancing the composite's flexural resistance. The circularity error was influenced by the feed (0.3 mm/rev) and spindle speed (4,000 rpm) in the hybrid composite. The wear results reveal that the FAF6 showed better abrasion resistance, and FAF1 was shown a higher wear rate than the other composites.