The applications of Metal Matrix Composites (MMC) are increasing day by day in numerous industries, especially aerospace and automotive. These innovative materials open up unlimited possibilities for modern materials science and development; MMC characteristics can be designed into the material, customized, depending on the application. From this potential, metal matrix composites satisfy all the conceptions desired by the designer. Metal matrix composites are formed from a combination of metal matrix and hard reinforcing phase. The incorporation of silicon carbide particles gives them superior specific strength, specific stiffness, high temperature capability, lower thermal expansion coefficient and better wear resistance. (Houyem Abderrazak and Emna Selmane Bel Hadj Hmida 1996). For many researchers, the term metal matrix composites (MMC) is often equated with the term lightweight metal matrix composites (LMC) due to their high strength-to-weight ratio (high tensile strength at low density). In recent decades, substantial progress has been made in the development of lightweight metal matrix composites, so much so that they could be introduced into major applications. In engineering, particularly in the automotive industry, LMCs have been used commercially in fiber-reinforced pistons and aluminum crankcases with reinforced cylinder surfaces and particle-reinforced brake discs [1]. Because they are harder in comparison, they are generally difficult to work with. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get Original Essay Previous literature indicates that polycrystalline diamond (PCD) tools are primarily used for machining particle-reinforced MMCs because they exhibit lower tool wear and useful tool life when machining these materials with PCD tools, which is harder than alumina Al2O3 and silicon carbide (SiC) and also does not have a chemical tendency to react with the workpiece material. However, due to the extremely high cost of PCD tools, many industries limit their use and show interest in less expensive tools such as cemented carbides and ceramics to machine these materials. In this paper, an investigation is being carried out on the machinability of LM13 /SiC metal matrix composite at different cutting speeds, feed rates and depths of cut with the aid of tungsten carbide tools. The influence of these parameters on surface roughness and tool wear is studied and it is observed that the tool tip temperature increases with increasing cutting speed. At high speeds, surface finish is less affected. Surface finish deteriorates at high feed rates; therefore to obtain a good surface finish, the feed speed can be kept low. At low speeds the cutting force is high and the tendency of the material to be machined to form a built-up edge is also greater. At lower speeds, surface roughness increases with increasing feed, but at higher speeds surface roughness is less dependent on feed.
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