Manufacturing Technology 2016, 16(5):1051-1055 | DOI: 10.21062/ujep/x.2016/a/1213-2489/MT/16/5/1051

Study of Surface Morphology and Topography of Pure Iron Machined by WEDM

Katerina Mouralova¹, Libor Benes², Radim Zahradnicek¹

¹ Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Brno University of Technology. Technicka 2896/2, 616 69 Brno. Czech Republic

² Faculty of Production Technology and Management, J. E. Purkyne University in Usti nad Labem. Pasteurova 3334/7, 400 01 Usti nad Labem. Czech Republic

Owing to its magnetic properties, pure iron is among materials investigated with a view to their use for improving existing memory media. Experimental equipment made of pure iron is prepared by using lithographic methods and magnetron sputtering, putting specific technological requirements on the input material. The non-conventional method of wire electrical discharge machining (WEDM) was used for the pure iron target in order to meet those requirements. The present study was devoted to the topology and morphology of the iron target machined by the electrical discharge method. Morphology was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) as a method capable of visualising the contrast between the pure iron and the copper from the electrode material diffusing on the machined surface. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) was used to analyse the local chemical composition. The machined surface topography was examined based on its areal and profile parameters.

Keywords: WEDM, Electrical Discharge Machining, pure iron, morphology of surface, topography, chemical composion

Published: October 1, 2016  Show citation