An experimental study of influence of wire electro discharge machining parameters on surface integrity of TiNiCo shape memory alloy

Shape memory alloys (SMAs) are unique class of smart materials with excellent physical, mechanical and biomedical properties, which have wide applications in several fields such as aerospace, robotics, biomedical, and dental etc. These alloys are well known for exhibiting shape memory effect (SME) and pseudoelasticity (PE), it is a well-established fact that they are required to be processed into functioning parts. The conventional machining affects the internal properties of shape memory alloys and hence, it is reported that nonconventional machining techniques are more suitable. Wire electro discharge machining (WEDM) is one of the nonconventional machining processes for machining complicated shapes without hampering the internal properties of such type of materials. In the present experimental investigation, wire electro discharge machining of Ti50Ni40Co10shape memory alloy (SMA) has been carried out and machining performances such as surface roughness (SR), and material removal rate (MRR) have been evaluated. Experimental results exposed that pulse on time, pulse off time and servo voltages are most influential process parameters on the responses. The machined surface has been characterised with respect to microstructure, microhardness, and phases formed.