Abstract
In this paper, an isotropous hydrophobic Ti3SiC2 surface with a micro-rectangular-columned structure can be machined by wire electrical discharge machining (WEDM) by different reference supply voltages. To optimize the WEDM processing parameters, the influence of the reference supply voltage on the topographies and phase constitutions of the micro-rectangular-columned Ti3SiC2 surface was studied. The relation between the phase constitution of the machined Ti3SiC2 surfaces and the different reference supply voltages was analyzed. The influences of the different reference supply voltages on the wetting behaviors of the textured Ti3SiC2 surfaces were characterized by the variation in the water contact angles on the textured surfaces. It was found that increasing the reference supply voltage would increase the surface roughness of the textured surface and aggravate the decomposition of Ti3SiC2 on the surfaces. The textured Ti3SiC2 surface had a maximum contact angle of 147.8°, which was increased by about 67% compared with the contact angle on the untextured Ti3SiC2 surface.
Highlights
A layered Ti3SiC2 phase has both metal and ceramic merits such as high electrical and thermal conductivity, excellent mechanical properties, and self-lubrication.1 it has been reported that Ti3SiC2 is susceptible to certain liquid environments, leading to limitation of its practical applications.2 Technically, this problem can be addressed by enhancing the hydrophobicity of the Ti3SiC2 surface because a hydrophobic surface can effectively minimize the contact between the surface and the fluids, resulting in reducing corrosion and decomposition of the Ti3SiC2 surface.3Usually, chemical methods and physical methods are employed to fabricate the hydrophobic surface.4–9 Chemical methods have several issues such as environmental problems, poor durability of the cover, and the weak binding force between the cover and the base materials, limiting their development
The phase constitutions of the untextured Ti3SiC2 surfaces and wire electrical discharge machining (WEDM) textured Ti3SiC2 surfaces were characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD, MiniFlex600, Rigaku), energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS, INCAP FET-X3), and Raman spectroscopy (HR Evolution, Horiba)
During WEDM processing, the gap between the electrode and the workpiece was filled with dielectric oil, and high-energy electric spark was generated in this discharge channel by the effect of the high frequency electric field to break through the insulating medium and release high instant temperature, resulting in texturing of the micro-structure as a result of the melting and even volatilization of Ti3SiC2.15 In the molten pool, the molten and gasified phases scitation.org/journal/adv splashed by the instant thermal impact were subsequently solidified and recast to micro-asperities with irregular structures and sizes, while micro-craters were formed in the molten area
Summary
A layered Ti3SiC2 phase has both metal and ceramic merits such as high electrical and thermal conductivity, excellent mechanical properties, and self-lubrication. it has been reported that Ti3SiC2 is susceptible to certain liquid environments, leading to limitation of its practical applications. Technically, this problem can be addressed by enhancing the hydrophobicity of the Ti3SiC2 surface because a hydrophobic surface can effectively minimize the contact between the surface and the fluids, resulting in reducing corrosion and decomposition of the Ti3SiC2 surface.. Physical methods are an environmentally friendly process, which can enhance the hydrophobic property of the machined surface by texturing a micro-structure on it and achieve an increasing contact angle by changing the gas–liquid–solid interfaces further because of the reducing fractional area of the liquid–solid interface. It has been reported that the workpieces machined by the WEDM process may have hierarchical structures that were formed spontaneously by remelting the working areas, resulting in the presence of micro/nano-features.. It has been reported that the workpieces machined by the WEDM process may have hierarchical structures that were formed spontaneously by remelting the working areas, resulting in the presence of micro/nano-features.11 Such micro-/nano-features have positive effects on the hydrophobicity of textured surfaces because dual structures would enhance the air entrapping effect.. The influencing mechanism of the processing parameters on the wetting behavior of the textured surface was analyzed by the relationship between the contact angles and the surface roughness
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