Electrical discharge machining of oxide and nitride ceramics: A review

Abstract

Ceramics are widespread materials for engineering applications due to their properties, such as low wear resistance and coefficient of thermal expansion. The high hardness and brittleness of ceramics reveal their difficulties in traditional machining. Electrical discharge machining is induced to be a method for machining non-conductive ceramics in the present review. The ability to be subjected to electrical discharge machining depends on their electrical properties. Some techniques allow subjecting to electrical discharge machining insulating materials where impulses are addressed to assisting films or particles. However, the most promising cutting ceramics' machining results stayed under expectations, with a maximum depth of 1651 um. The study is devoted to the systematization of the obtained during the last decades' results, analyses of the chemical content of the formed erosion products using assisting electrodes made of Copper subgroup, elements of the second-third period, d-elements in hydrocarbon and water medium based on the theory of structure and transformation of substances for Al2O3, AlN, SiAlON, Si3N4, ZrO2, development of the alternative perspectives and unique cross-disciplinary approach that is critical for transitioning to the sixth technological paradigm associated with the Kondratieff waves.

Keywords

• Alumina
• Electrical discharge machining
• Oxide
• Nitride
• SiAlON
• Zirconia