Impact of variation in wire electro discharge machining responses of homologous TiNiCu shape memory alloys for smart applications: An experimental investigation

Abstract

In this study, three distinct TiNiCu alloys were processed using wire electro discharge machining. These alloys are potential materials for smart applications owing to their fast actuation response resulting from suitable martensitic transformation temperatures. Due to differences in their physical property (thermal conductivity in this case), these alloys exhibit variation in machining response during wire electro discharge machining. Based on wire electro discharge machining responses of these alloys, order of thermal conductivity of these alloys are concluded in this study. This investigation aims at addressing the variation in terms of kerf width, recast layer thickness and machined surface microhardness to form the basis for production of intricate components. Ti50Ni40Cu10 alloy exhibited diverging machining response compared to its counterparts. Influential parameter for a given machining response changes depending on thermal property of the workpiece which makes it vital to investigate and choose the parameters in a more sensible manner while machining such materials. It was found that kerf width decreases with increasing servo voltage whereas recast layer thickness (mostly influenced by pulse off duration) increases with increasing pulse off duration. Microhardness of the machined surface (mostly influenced by pulse on duration) increases at higher discharge energy levels owing to presence of oxides formed during spark erosion process. Microhardness of Ti40Ni50Cu10 was found to be high (approximately 560 Hv) compared to its counterparts which was due to presence of Ni rich and ?-CuTi precipitates which also affected its phase transformation temperatures. 2018 IOP Publishing Ltd.