Influence of surface texture of electric discharge machined Ti6Al4V on the surface wettability

Abstract

This study examines the effects of crucial ISO 25178 parameters, including height, functional, spatial, functional (stratified), hybrid, and functional (volume), on surface wettability and the influence of key electric discharge texturing process parameters, including current and pulse ON time, on surface roughness (Sa) and water droplet contact angle. To examine the level of significance of each parameter and to determine the level of correlation, a three-level full factorial experimental design, and ANOVA analysis are used. The findings showed that over pulse ON time, the important factor influencing surface roughness (Sa) and contact angle is current. The surface roughness (Sa) is observed to vary between 4.2 and 12.7, whereas the water droplet contact angle varies between 90.7° and 120.4°. In order to find out the correlation between the surface texture parameters based on the ISO 251718, Pearson Correlation analysis were adopted and it is observed that Sa, Sq, Str, Smrk1, Sdr, Vm, and Vmp are having a substantial correlation with the contact angle. Among the ISO25178 parameters examined, Smrk1, however, has demonstrated a highest impact on the contact angle with a highest pearson correlation coefficient of −0.757.