Investigation of the machinability of B4C+TiB2/Al 2024 composite manufactured by powder metallurgy with EDM

In this study, the machinability of B4C and TiB2 reinforced Al 2024 based composites produced by powder metallurgy was investigated with EDM (Electro Discharge Machining) method using two different copper electrodes. For this purpose, composite samples were produced at 6% TiB2+12% B4C reinforcement ratios. Then, scanning electron microscopy images were taken to examine the microstructure of the composite samples. Also EDAX analyzes were performed during SEM images. In EDM machinability experiments of the composite material two different electrodes; pure copper and beryllium copper were used. The experiments were carried out using three different current (I) and arc pulse on time (t(on)) and two different arc pulse off time (t(off)) parameters. As a result of EDM experiments, roughness measurements of the machined surfaces were made and SEM images of the machined surfaces were taken again. According to the experimental findings, material removal rate increased in machining with CuBe tool compared to machining made with pure Cu and CuBe tools showed higher wear tendency than Cu tool sunder the same machining conditions and roughness values in CuBe electrodes were lower than machining made with pure Cu. And the roughness values of CuBe are lower than the machinings with pure Cu.