Surface integrity analysis of Nitinol-60 shape memory alloy in WEDM

ABSTRACT

Nitinol-60, which belongs to the group of Nickel-Titanium based Shape Memory Alloys, offers remarkable properties like high wear resistance, high strength, shape memory, and super-elasticity; thereby making it convenient for use in aircraft and biomedical applications. However, these properties make Nitinol a ‘difficult-to-machine’ material during the traditional machining processes. Hence an experiment based study on Wire Electrical Discharge Machining of Nitinol-60 has been executed based on the parametric effects. This study attempts to provide the quantitative details of the machined surfaces in terms of maximum peak to valley height, the average peak to valley height, recast layer thickness, and surface crack density. In addition, Response Surface Methodological models of these surface parameters along with the cutting rate have been developed. Monte Carlo simulation of the generated regression equations is carried out to study the behavior of the models using randomly generated data. The results show that the developed models are in agreement with the experimental data; which further indicates that the optimal parameters are suitable for mass production.

KEYWORDS:

• WEDM
• Nitinol
• SCD
• RLT
• Monte-Carlo

Additional information

Funding

This project was supported by the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Govt. of India [ECR/2017/000807];