Polymeric nanocomposites are an emerging research topic, as they improve fiber-reinforced composites’ thermo-mechanical and tribological properties. Nanomaterials improve electrical and thermal conductivity and provide excellent wear and friction resistance to the polymer matrix material. In this research work, a systematic study was carried out to examine the tensile and hardness properties of a carbon fiber epoxy composite comprising nano-sized Al₂O₃ and SiC fillers. The study confirms that adding nano-fillers produces superior tensile and hardness properties for carbon fiber-reinforced polymer composites. The amount of filler loading ranged from 1, 1.5, 1.75, and 2% by weight of the resin for Al₂O₃ and 1, 1.25, 1.5, and 2% for SiC fillers. The maximum tensile strength gain of 29.54% and modulus gain of 2.42% were noted for Al₂O₃ filled composite at 1.75 wt.% filler loading. Likewise, enhanced strength gain of 25.75% and 1.17% in modulus gain was obtained for SiC-filled composite at 1.25 wt.% filler loading, respectively. The hardness property of nano-filled composites improved with a hardness number of 47 for nano-Al₂O₃ and 43 for nano-SiC, respectively, at the same filler loading.

Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites are widely being used for structural applications due to their attractive properties. Particularly, to fabricate complicated structures by FRP composites, joining composite structure elements through fasteners require drilled holes. More than 60% of the structural FRP components are rejected owing to poor quality of holes. The FRP composites are heterogeneous due to multi-layer architecture, multi-phase material combinations, and hybridization. Hence, while drilling the behavior of FRP composites depends on various machining and tool parameters in addition to workpiece properties. As a result of drilling, the quality of drilled holes deteriorates due to delamination, matrix crack, matrix burning, fiber pull-out, buckling, spalling, and fuzzing in the drilled hole zone. To minimize all these defects researchers tried to design material, tool and machining parameters and reported. In this paper, the authors have made an attempt to summarize up-to-date progress in structure properties and drilling study of unidirectional and bidirectional multi-layered composites, three-dimensional fabric-reinforced composite and hybrid composite and similarly, emphasize the advanced characterization techniques to investigate the drilled hole quality. In addition, cryogenic assisted drilling, lubricated drilling, and micro-drilling literatures have been discussed. Based on the literature, conclusions and future scope have been reported.

The carbon fiber reinforced polymer composite has made a substantial impact on the manufacturing sectors owing to its excellent mechanical, thermal and corrosion resisting properties. The surface roughness mainly depends on the machining parameters while drilling of carbon fiber reinforced polymer composite laminates. The study concentrates on the impact of uncoated and titanium nitride coated solid carbide drills on minimizing the roughness that is generated while making holes in bi-directional carbon fiber reinforced polymer composite by optimizing the drilling constraints [spindle speed (A), feed rate (B), point angle (C) and drill diameter (D)]. Experimental studies are carried out using Taguchi L ₂₇ orthogonal array. The investigation discloses that the drill diameter is one of the most influencing cutting parameters followed by spindle speed and feed rate. The response surface methodology is chosen as a tool for predicting and optimizing the process parameters. The investigation also discloses that the experimental and the predicted results of surface roughness are closely matching with each other. The surface morphology illustrates that titanium nitride coated solid carbide drills minimize the surface roughness compare to that of uncoated solid carbide drills.

Unidirectional carbon fiber-reinforced polymer nanocomposites were developed by adding alumina (Al₂O₃) and silicon carbide (SiC) nanoparticles using ultrasonication and magnetic stirring. The uniform nanoparticle dispersions were examined with a field-emission scanning electron microscope. The nano-phase matrix was then utilized to fabricate the hybrid carbon fiber-reinforced polymer nanocomposites by hand lay-up and compression molding. The weight fractions selected for Al₂O₃ and SiC nanoparticles were determined based on improvements in mechanical properties. Accordingly, the hybrid nanocomposites were fabricated at weight fractions of 1, 1.5, 1.75, and 2 wt.% for Al₂O₃. Likewise, the weight fractions selected for SiC were 1, 1.25, 1.5, and 2 wt.%. At 1.75 wt.% Al₂O₃ nanoparticle loading, the flexural strength modulus improved by 31.76% and 37.08%, respectively. Additionally, the interlaminar shear and impact strength enhanced by 40.95% and 47.51%, respectively. For SiC nanocomposites, improvements in flexural strength (12.79%) and flexural modulus (9.59%) were accomplished at 1.25 wt.% nanoparticle loading. Interlaminar shear strength was enhanced by 34.27%, and maximum impact strength was improved by 30.45%. Effective particle interactions with polymeric chains of epoxy, crack deflection, and crack arresting were the micromechanics accountable for enhancing the mechanical properties of nanocomposites.