Investigating surface properties of OHNS die steel after electrical discharge machining with manganese powder mixed in the dielectric

摘要

Although electrical discharge machining is essentially a material removal process, efforts have been made in the recent past to use it as a surface treatment method. An additive powder in the dielectric medium affects the sparking action and helps in improving the surface properties. It may melt at the high temperature of the plasma channel and alloy with the machined surface under appropriate machining conditions. Breakdown of the hydrocarbon dielectric contributes carbon to the plasma channel. In this paper, changes in surface properties of oil-hardening non-shrinkable die steel after machining with manganese powder suspended in kerosene dielectric medium have been investigated. Results show improvement in microhardness by 73%, and no microcracks on the machined surface. X-ray diffraction analysis of the machined surfaces reveals the transfer of manganese and carbon from the plasma channel in the form of manganese carbide. Quantitative analysis of chemical composition by optical emission spectrometer confirms significant increase in the percentages of manganese and carbon.