Influence of Span 20 Surfactant and Graphite Powder Added in Dielectric Fluid on EDM of Titanium Alloy

This paper describes an experimental study to evaluate the effect of Span20 surfactant and Graphite powder (additives) added to the dielectric fluid on the machining characteristics of the Titanium alloy using Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM). Variation of material removal rate, surface roughness and tool wear rate with respect to the variation in discharge current is evaluated. Comparison is made between the performance characteristics of the Titanium alloy with and without additives added to the dielectric fluid in the machining process. Increase in Material Removal Rate (MRR) and decrease in Tool Wear Rate (TWR) and Surface Roughness (SR) were observed, when the material is machined with additives added in the dielectric fluid compared to the machining of the alloy without additives added in the dielectric fluid. The Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) photograph observed that the recast layer thickness is low and on the machined upper surface less micro cracks and craters are formed. Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) analysis also indicates that some amounts of material were transferred from electrode to workpiece.