Developments in Powder Mixed EDM and its perspective Application for targeted Surface Modification

Although widely studied over the few decades, there are conflicting theories on the discharge mechanisms of powder mixed electrical discharge machining (PMEDM). Additionally, the dielectric flow plays a vital role in the distribution of powder particles in the machining gap, which significantly affects the powder deposition to the modified surface. In this paper, the literature on PMEDM surface modification is thoroughly reported. The conflicting mechanisms and the effects of PMEDM main machining conditions, such as powder and electrical parameters on improving mechanical and antibacterial properties as well as biocompatibility of the surface, have been discussed. To verify the separation mechanism of the discharge in PMEDM, single discharge investigations have been performed when silver nano-powder is mixed into the hydrocarbon-based dielectric fluid to modify Ti6Al4V surfaces. Surface topography, chemical composition as well as the deposited silver content and distribution over the crater surface when using positive and negative polarities are analyzed and discussed. Current waveforms of PMEDM and EDM without powder at varying discharge energies as well as with and without ultrasonic vibration assistance are recorded and analyzed. For the transfer of fundamental results to a perspective application, CFD simulation is used to calculate the flow field of the dielectric fluid and analyze the velocity and distribution of the nano-powder within the working gap of a setup with internal flushing. The results show that PMEDM is a potential technology for machining medical devices with simultaneous antibacterial surface modification.