Influence of Different Powder-Suspended Dielectric on The EDM Characteristics of Inconel 825

Abstract

The present work aims to study the influence of various powder-suspended dielectrics viz. aluminium (Al), graphite (C), and silicon (Si) on several EDM performance characteristics namely material removal rate (MRR), surface roughness (Ra), and radial overcut (ROC) of Inconel 825. Results indicate that the powder properties like thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity, density, and hardness have a major impact on the machining performance and the quality of the machined surface. It has been observed that the aluminium powder particles dispersed in EDM oil yield highest material removal rate as compared to the other powders whereas the silicon powder particles provide a better surface finish and least radial overcut.