Ultrasonic Electrodeposition of Cu–SiC Electrodes for EDM

Abstract

Cu-SiC composite electrodes composed of both a Cu matrix and dispersed inert SiC particles were fabricated for electrical discharge machining (EDM) using the ultrasonic-aided electrodeposition technique. The influence of ultrasonic power on the surface morphology, content of SiC particles, and EDM wear rate of the fabricated Cu-SiC composite electrode were investigated. Results show that the incorporation of SiC particles into the composite electrode was enhanced and that the uniformity of particle distribution in the Cu matrix improved when the ultrasonic dispersion was initiated during electrodeposition. The composite that was generated at low ultrasonic power contained more SiC than that produced at high ultrasonic power. Moreover, the Cu-SiC electrode fabricated at low ultrasonic power displayed the least erosion wear during EDM.

Keywords:

• Discharge
• Electrical
• Electrode
• Electrodeposition
• SiC
• Wear