The effect of various wire electrical discharge machining process parameters such as pulse on time, pulse off time, pulse current and the wire drum speed on machined surface quality characteristics such as surface roughness and kerf width has been discussed. The experiments were carried out with L27 orthogonal array on hybrid metal matrix composite prepared by inert gas–assisted electromagnetic stir casting process using particulates 7.5% Al2O3 and 7.5% SiC each in Al7075 alloy. Taguchi-based grey relational analysis, a multi-response optimization technique, was used to find the optimal process parameter setting for the best quality machined characteristics. Results of analysis of variance showed that the order of significance was pulse on time, pulse current, pulse off time and the wire drum speed contributing 50.02%, 39.50%, 4.58% and 2.75%, respectively, while machining the hybrid composite. Confirmation test was carried out at selected optimal parameter setting, which showed improvement in grey relational grade, thus confirming the robustness of grey relational analysis.
In this paper, an inert gas assisted electromagnetic stir casting process is adapted for manufacturing a cast hybrid metal matrix composite (MMC) using Al2O3 and SiC particulates as a hard phase reinforcement in Al 7075 alloy metal matrix. Four different samples containing 5, 10, 15 and 20 wt% of Al2O3 and SiC with Al 7075 alloy composites were fabricated. The characterizations for all the samples were carried out through optical microstructure, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) fractograph, X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, differential thermal analysis (DTA) analysis and mechanical properties. The results revealed that the particles are uniformly distributed in the matrix. No peaks of Al4C3 were found. There is negligible loss of material in the composite. The tensile strength and microhardness of the hybrid composite are higher by 65.7% and 13.5%, respectively, when compared to its cast metal matrix Al 7075 alloy.
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