Fabrication and machinability study of Zn-Al-TiC composite using wire EDM with different dielectric media

• Published in: Advances in materials and processing technologies (Abingdon, England) England), 2023-07, Vol.9 (3), p.1340-1355
• Main Authors: Ahmad, Tariq, Khan, Noor Zaman, Mohsin Khan, Mohammad, Lone, Nadeem Fayaz, Siddiquee, Arshad Noor, Ahmad, Babar, Ahmad, Shafi, Khan, Zahid A., Shahid Ul Islam, Sheikh
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: entropy method; marcos method; Metal matrix composite; multi-response optimisation; wire EDM
• ISSN: 2374-068X; 2374-0698
• DOI: 10.1080/2374068X.2022.2116878

Metal matrix composite (MMC) with matrix material as Zinc-Aluminium alloy ZA-27 and reinforcement as 5% TiC ceramic particles is fabricated in the present study. This MMC is prepared in an electric furnace and subsequently machined on a wire electric discharge machine (WEDM). Taguchi's L 27 orthogonal array (OA) is applied with four WEDM parameters: pulse ON time (POT), current (I), pulse OFF time (PFT) and dielectric fluid (DF). To investigate the effect of these parameters on the kerf width (K w ), surface roughness (R a ) and material removal rate (MRR); each of the parameter were individually varied at three different levels. The output responses are analysed using the Entropy-based Measurement of Alternatives and Ranking according to the Compromise Solution (MARCOS) approach. The optimum condition for multiple responses is found at (POT) 3 (I) 1 (PFT) 3 (DF) 2 i.e. pulse ON time at 60 µs, current at 2 A, pulse OFF time at 5 µs and dielectric fluid as vegetable oil. The surface and edge morphology of the machined part is evaluated using SEM micrographs.