Investigation of Spark Erosion Behavior of Rene 41 Alloy Using Powder Mixed Dielectric Fluid

Abstract

The objective of the experimental work is to enhance the machining capability of electrical discharge machining by suspending equal proportion of metal powders such as, molybdenum, nickel, and chromium in EDM 30 oil. Three different control factors such as peak current, pulse on time and powder concentration were varied to analyze the response factors namely material removal rate, surface roughness and radial overcut. The cause of powders concentration on material removal rate (MRR), surface roughness (SR), and radial overcut (ROC) have been investigated. An electron dispersive spectroscopy was utilized to investigate the surface revealed the deposition of nickel and chromium in the machined surface. Machined surface was focused to atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) results showed that peak current is the foremost factor in affecting MRR, SR and ROC.

Keywords:
Powder mixed EDM; Rene 41; Radial overcut; Atomic force microscopy; Powder concentration