Enhancing surface characteristics of TC4 alloy through powder-mixed near-dry EDM surface strengthening.

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Title: Enhancing surface characteristics of TC4 alloy through powder-mixed near-dry EDM surface strengthening.
Authors: Fu, Lin1 (AUTHOR), Li, Min2 (AUTHOR) limin04s@163.com, Zhang, Tong3 (AUTHOR), Hu, Xiaojun4 (AUTHOR), Xie, Lei1 (AUTHOR)
Source: Machining Science & Technology. 2026, Vol. 30 Issue 3, p506-526. 21p.
Subjects: Titanium alloys, Surface hardening, Electric metal-cutting, Mechanical behavior of materials, Powders
Abstract: This study significantly improved the microstructure and mechanical properties of the surface strengthening layer on TC4 titanium alloy by introducing composite powder working media of C + B4C and C + B4C + Al into near-dry EDM (PMND-EDM). Experimental results indicate that under the C + B4C condition, the reinforcement layer mainly forms phases such as TiC, TiB, Ti, Al3Ti and AlTi3; whereas after adding Al powder (C + B4C + Al), it promotes the reaction between the matrix and the medium, generating new reinforcing phases such as Al5Ti, Al3BC and B8C. The introduction of aluminum powder provides a molten environment, significantly reducing porosity and splatter droplets and decreasing the density and width of microcracks. Elemental distribution shows that B, C and Al elements are enriched in the transition zone at the edge of the discharge pit, while the central region is mainly composed of Ti. When processing with C + B4C + Al mixed powder at a peak current of 8.2 A, the microhardness of the reinforcement layer reaches approximately 1300 HV, which is more than four times the hardness of the matrix, attributed to the synergistic strengthening mechanism of multiple phases. Meanwhile, the material removal rate (MRR) is improved after adding Al powder. This work demonstrates the superior potential of multi-component powder design in tailoring surface integrity and mechanical properties of difficult-to-machine alloys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Machining Science & Technology is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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An: 194611100
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  Data: Enhancing surface characteristics of TC4 alloy through powder-mixed near-dry EDM surface strengthening.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Machining+Science+%26+Technology%22">Machining Science & Technology</searchLink>. 2026, Vol. 30 Issue 3, p506-526. 21p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Titanium+alloys%22">Titanium alloys</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Surface+hardening%22">Surface hardening</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Electric+metal-cutting%22">Electric metal-cutting</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mechanical+behavior+of+materials%22">Mechanical behavior of materials</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Powders%22">Powders</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: This study significantly improved the microstructure and mechanical properties of the surface strengthening layer on TC4 titanium alloy by introducing composite powder working media of C + B4C and C + B4C + Al into near-dry EDM (PMND-EDM). Experimental results indicate that under the C + B4C condition, the reinforcement layer mainly forms phases such as TiC, TiB, Ti, Al3Ti and AlTi3; whereas after adding Al powder (C + B4C + Al), it promotes the reaction between the matrix and the medium, generating new reinforcing phases such as Al5Ti, Al3BC and B8C. The introduction of aluminum powder provides a molten environment, significantly reducing porosity and splatter droplets and decreasing the density and width of microcracks. Elemental distribution shows that B, C and Al elements are enriched in the transition zone at the edge of the discharge pit, while the central region is mainly composed of Ti. When processing with C + B4C + Al mixed powder at a peak current of 8.2 A, the microhardness of the reinforcement layer reaches approximately 1300 HV, which is more than four times the hardness of the matrix, attributed to the synergistic strengthening mechanism of multiple phases. Meanwhile, the material removal rate (MRR) is improved after adding Al powder. This work demonstrates the superior potential of multi-component powder design in tailoring surface integrity and mechanical properties of difficult-to-machine alloys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Machining Science & Technology is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/10910344.2025.2595602
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        Text: English
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        PageCount: 21
        StartPage: 506
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        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Surface hardening
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Electric metal-cutting
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mechanical behavior of materials
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Powders
        Type: general
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            NameFull: Fu, Lin
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            NameFull: Zhang, Tong
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            – D: 01
              M: 05
              Text: 2026
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