Experimental study on the kerf characteristic and cross-section quality of CFRP laminates cut by steel slag abrasive waterjet

Steel slag can be used as a new kind of particle in abrasive waterjet (AWJ) processing for its low cost and comparable cutting ability. In this study, the cutting performance of steel slag abrasive waterjet (SAWJ) on carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminates was experimentally studied, and garnet abrasive waterjet (GAWJ) cutting tests were also conducted for comparison. Results show that the kerf depths of CFRP cut by SAWJ are slightly smaller than those cut by GAWJ, while the kerf widths have no significant difference. The cutting widths and depths are most affected by the standoff distance and the waterjet pressure, respectively, and are regardless of the abrasive type. Material spalling can be observed at the kerf entrance, so there is a "pocket" shape void at the kerf bottom due to the brittleness of CFRP. The CFRP section shows a typical initial damage zone, a cutting wear zone, and a striation zone. Fiber delamination and resin shedding were observed from SEM images. Since the cost of steel slag is 40% of garnet, the economic benefit of SAWJ reaches about 270% of GAWJ considering the consumption of abrasive. Therefore, the SAWJ can serve as a good substitute for GAWJ due to the proximate cutting ability and much lower cost in CFRP processing.