Formation of carbides by electro-discharge machining of alpha iron

• Published in: Materials science & engineering. A, Structural materials : properties, microstructure and processing Vol. 276; no. 1; pp. 133 - 140
• Main Authors: Cabanillas, E.D., Desimoni, J., Punte, G., Mercader, R.C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 15.01.2000; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Carbide formation; Cutting; Electro-discharge machining; Exact sciences and technology; Metals. Metallurgy; Mössbauer spectroscopy; Other machining methods; Production techniques; Surface planing; X-ray diffraction; X-ray diffraction; Carbide formation; Surface planing; Electro-discharge machining; Mössbauer spectroscopy; Planing; Spark discharge; Sheet metal; Iron; Moessbauer spectrometry; Experimental study; Microstructure; X ray diffraction; Carbides; Electrical discharge machining; Operating conditions
• ISSN: 0921-5093; 1873-4936
• DOI: 10.1016/S0921-5093(99)00443-8

The surface of pure iron sheets have been submitted to spark-planing erosion using kerosene as dielectric under a wide range of machining conditions: discharge duration times between 2 and 3072 μs, and spark currents between 3.3 and 25 A. The carbides formed by the electro-discharge machining process have been identified by X-ray diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy. Two different regimes of carbide formation were established: for sparks of energy below ≈0.5 J only ε-carbide, austenite and martensite were observed; for sparks of higher energy mainly cementite, austenite and traces of martensite, Fe 7C 3, or Fe 5C 2 were detected.