| Abstract |
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The metal-matrix composites are preferred due to their high hardness, light weight, flexibility, high strength, simplicity and ease of applicability which make them potentially valuable in every industrious area like motor vehicles industries, mechanical tools manufacturing industries, structural applications and aerospace industries. Electro-discharge machining is a non-conventional machining process which uses short electrical discharges to machine any material of any hardness and strength levels provided that they are electrically conductive. In this paper, an attempt was made to find the machinability of aluminium metal matrix composite using powder mixed electric discharge machining (PMEDM). The aluminium matrix was reinforced with different percentages of silicon carbide (3%, 9% & 15%) to form the composites using stir casting process. The Characteristic Material removal rate (MRR) was studied while varying the process parameters of discharge time (TON), peak current (I) and concentration of SiC in work material (C) according to the face cantered central composite design for a constant voltage of 40 volts. The Electric Discharge Machining of the composites was carried out using a copper electrode of Ø6mm and kerosene mixed with aluminium powder was used as dielectric fluid. |
