Damage to Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites (CFRP) by Laser Machining: An Overview

Carbon fiber reinforced polymer or CFRP composite is the most sort-after material for aircraft manufacturing today and commercial aircraft manufacturers are critically attempting to solve the delamination problem as well as other damages. On the other hand, implementation of laser technology in cutting and drilling composites is now becoming more important as an alternative solution for machining of composites. The major obstacles in laser machining of composites for industrial applications are typically related to inferior kerf width (due to tapered cut), heat-affected zone (HAZ), charring, matrix recession, protruding fibers and potential delamination. Therefore, it is desirable to optimize the machining parameters in order to control the level of heat-induced in machining of CFRP composites. Currently, no comparative study has been conducted between the effects of ring shape and spiral trepanning, which this study might be the potential to apply on drilling thick CFRP composites. High powered lasers are also important in drilling thick CFRP composites. This article reviews the experimental progress in laser machining of CFRP composites, which is intended to help readers to obtain the latest views in order to develop the appropriate machining parameters.