Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 10, 2025

Generating Lap Joints Via Friction Stir Spot Welding on DP780 Steel
Published on: August 13, 2019
Tool Wear and Surface Evaluation in Drilling Fly Ash Geopolymer Using HSS, HSS-Co, and HSS-TiN Cutting Tools
Mohd Fathullah Ghazali1,2, Mohd Mustafa Al Bakri Abdullah2,3, Shayfull Zamree Abd Rahim1,2
1Faculty of Mechanical Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Perlis 01000, Malaysia.
Abstract:
This paper reports on the potential use of geopolymer in the drilling process, with respect to tool wear and surface roughness. The objectives of this research are to analyze the tool life of three different economy-grade drill bit uncoated; high-speed steel (HSS), HSS coated with TiN (HSS-TiN), and HSS-cobalt (HSS-Co) in the drilling of geopolymer and to investigate the effect of spindle speed towards the tool life and surface roughness. It was found that, based on the range of parameters set in this experiment, the spindle speed is directly proportional to the tool wear and inversely proportional to surface roughness. It was also observed that HSS-Co produced the lowest value of surface roughness compared to HSS-TiN and uncoated HSS and therefore is the most favorable tool to be used for drilling the material. For HSS, HSS coated with TiN, and HSS-Co, only the drilling with the spindle speed of 100 rpm was able to drill 15 holes without surpassing the maximum tool wear of 0.10 mm. HSS-Co exhibits the greatest tool life by showing the lowest value of flank wear and produce a better surface finish to the sample by a low value of surface roughness value (Ra). This finding explains that geopolymer is possible to be drilled, and therefore, ranges of cutting tools and parameters suggested can be a guideline for researchers and manufacturers to drill geopolymer for further applications.
Related Concept Videos
Abrasion Resistance of Concrete
One such test is the revolving disc test, where three plates...
Porosity in Cement Paste
The balance of water to cement in the mix is...
Pozzolans
Fly ash is...
Toughness and Hardness of Aggregate
Fineness of Cement
Direct...

