Drilling of polymer matrix composites: A review

This article addresses the effects of drilling parameters on the machinability parameters in drilling polymeric composite materials. Drilling parameters include: feed, speed, drill wear, drill geometry, drilling with special tools, and composite materials parameters. The machinability parameters include: thrust force, torque, residual strength, surface roughness, and mechanical and thermal damages of the composite materials. Delamination associated with drilling processes can often be the limiting factor for composite materials in structural applications. It results in reducing the structural strength, poor assembly tolerance and, hence, it has the potential for long-term performance deterioration. Therefore, special interest will be given for reporting factors affecting the delamination onset, delamination mechanisms, measurements, assessments, and delamination-free techniques in drilling fiber-reinforced composites.