Recent advancement in electric discharge machining of metal matrix composite materials

Abstract

Spark Erosion Machining which is also known as Electric Discharge Machining (EDM) is one of the most commonly used non-conventional machining process for the machining of electrically conductive materials by utilizing precise controlled spark which take place between a tool and work piece in the presence of dielectric liquid. Presently in now days EDM procedure is usually utilized for machining of advanced material such as ceramic, composite, metal matrix composite (MMC), ceramic matrix composite (CMC) etc. which have immense applications in automobile, aerospace, shipyard and railway application. Presently among all MMC material aluminium MMC material are mostly used because of their outstanding properties such as low density, remarkable wear and corrosive resistance, tensile strength and low coefficient of thermal expansion. It is very difficult to machine MMC material with help of conventional machine because of high tool wear rate and high tooling cost. Nonconventional machining provides a provision to machine such a material efficiently. This paper represents a review of EDM on MMC material, effect of electrical and non electrical parameter on the machining characteristics, optimization of EDM parameter and determination of more optimistic methodology. This paper also reveals some future research trend that can be performed in future in the same region.