Optimization of Electrochemical Micromachining Process Parameters for Machining of AMCs with Different % Compositions of GGBS Using Taguchi and TOPSIS Methods

Abstract

In recent years, the application of aluminum metal matrix composites is expanding to various fields like aerospace, automobile and other industrial machineries. This paper presents the machinability of ground-granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS)-reinforced aluminum 6061 metal matrix composites using electrochemical micromachining for material removal rate (MRR) and radial overcut (ROC). Input voltage, duty cycle, electrolyte concentration and % of composition are selected as the input process parameters. Experiments have been investigated using the L18 mixed-level orthogonal array, and process parameters are optimized using Taguchi technique. The model equation for MRR and ROC is developed using regression analysis. Analysis of variance is performed, and the most significant factor is found to be percentage (%) composition of GGBS. Additionally, the multi-criteria decision-making technique has been used to find optimal machining parameters for higher MRR and lower ROC. The optimal combination for higher MRR and lower ROC is 10 V, 50%, 35 g/l and 12% of GGBS composition. The confirmation test has been carried out to validate the results, and the obtained optimal parameter levels are very close to an ideal solution.