Chapter Seven - Computational analysis of provisional study on white layer properties by EDM vs. WEDM of aluminum metal matrix composites

Abstract

Aluminium metal matrix composites (AMMC) are extensively used in aerospace, automobile, shipping, mining, sports, and medical equipments because of its eminent properties. Conventional machining process of AMMC is very difficult because of poor surface finish, burr formation, high thermal stress, rapid tool wear, etc. Nonconventional machining process such as electrical discharge machining (EDM) and wire-electrical discharge machining (WEDM) are repeatedly used on account of controlled process parameters, net shape formation of complex components. High accelerated heat flux on machined surfaces in EDM and WEDM promote the thermal damage in heat affected zone (HAZ) namely white layer or recast layer and globule. White layer holds high strength and higher hardness which is in brittle nature leads to brittle nature to fail. In this work, the white layer thickness, globule areas, globule diameter and micro hardness were analysed in EDM and WEDM process. The result reveals that, the globule was formed due to the unfit machining control parameters and the white layer thickness and globule diameters are quite different for EDM and WEDM.