Machinability assessment of AA7075 composite reinforced with rice husk ash using spark erosion machining process

ABSTRACT

In this present study, stir cast AA7075 composite containing 5 wt.% quantity of rice husk ash was machined through electrical discharge machining process. The effects of variation of different process variables including peak current, pulse on time, and gap voltage along with constant duty cycle on performance attributes such as material removal rate (MRR), tool wear rate (TWR), and surface roughness (SR) were evaluated by differing one parameter at a time. Analysis of results revealed that MRR showed directly proportional relationship with current and decreased with increasing gap voltages. MRR also varied directly with pulse on time upto 300 µs and decreased afterwards. TWR enhanced with increasing peak current and pulse duration whereas insignificant variation of TWR with changing gap voltages was observed. SR was found to be significantly exhibiting increasing trend with increasing current and pulse duration. However, SR exhibited a fluctuating trend with increase in gap voltage. EDM surface was also characterised through SEM.

KEYWORDS:

• EDM
• AA7075
• composites
• rice husk ash
• performance characteristics
• MRR
• TWR
• SR

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).