Electrochemical machining of deep narrow slits on TB6 titanium alloys

• Published in: International journal of advanced manufacturing technology 2017-09, Vol.92 (5-8), p.3063-3071
• Main Authors: Wang, Feng, Zhao, Jianshe, Lv, Yanming, Yang, Zhenwen, Yao, Jun, He, Yafeng, Tian, Zongjun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aerospace industry; CAE) and Design; Computer-Aided Engineering (CAD; Current efficiency; Dissolution; Electrochemical machining; Electrolytes; Engineering; Feeding; Industrial and Production Engineering; Machining; Mechanical Engineering; Media Management; Original Article; Passivity; Pitting (corrosion); Pitting (wear); Residual stress; Slits; Surface properties; Thermal stress; Titanium alloys; Titanium base alloys; Tool wear; Vibration
• ISSN: 0268-3768; 1433-3015
• DOI: 10.1007/s00170-017-0392-0

Deep narrow slits of titanium alloys are extensively used in the aerospace industry. Electrochemical machining (ECM) is suitable for fabricating deep narrow slits owing to its advantages such as no tool wear, no residual stress, and no thermal stress. However, the machining surface of titanium alloy is prone to passivation, and the pitting is prone to generating on the non-machined surface, which restricts forming precision enhancement. In this study, the electrochemical dissolution characteristics of TB6 titanium alloy were investigated using the method of electrolyte lateral flow, and the experiments of the deep narrow slit machining were also conducted on the basis of the self-developed vibration apparatus. The results reveal that the mixed electrolyte composed of NaCl and NaNO 3 is capable of enhancing the current efficiency and surface quality of TB6 titanium alloy. Moreover, the average slit width at the entrance of the deep narrow slit is limited at 2.48 mm, and the average slit width in the depth direction is limited at 2.67 mm using the method of vibration superimposed on the high-speed linear feeding.