LAUSR

Abstract The use of 100% biodegradable composites in the industry is increasing significantly over the years, mainly due to their excellent properties as well as to the growing ecologic concern. However, after their manufacture, the composite pieces do not always have the final shape, requiring subsequent processing operations, usually drilling and trimming. The performance of cutting processes on fully biodegradable composites are often limited by induced damage as fraying and delamination. This type of phenomena is related, among others, with the cutting parameters and geometries of the tool. Orthogonal cutting is a simplified process that could help in the understanding of damage mechanisms, it is a well-known technique in traditional composites but its use in biocomposites is an almost unexplored field. This work focuses on flax/PLA 100% biodegradable woven composites. The specimens have been manufactured with different angles of orientation, ranging from 0° to 60°, being subjected to orthogonal cutting in a special machine developed for that purpose that allows to develop cutting tests with linear displacement at high speeds. Damage extension, failure modes, and cutting forces are analyzed allowing the extraction of important experimental information.