Optimization of the Process of Obtaining Powder Materials for the Production of Carbide Cutting Tools by Electrodispersion of Tn20 Alloy Metal Waste in Water

Abstract

Рurpose of this work was to optimize the process of obtaining powder materials for the production of carbide cutting tools by electrodispersing metal waste of TN20 alloy in water.Methods. To carry out the planned studies, waste of sintered tungsten-free hard alloy of the TN20 brand was selected. Distilled water was used as the working fluid. On an experimental patented installation for the production of powders from conductive materials, waste of a tungsten-free hard alloy TN20 was dispersed in distilled water with a loading weight of 500 g. The following electrical parameters of the installation were used: capacitance of capacitors 60.0...62.5 UF; voltage at the electrodes from 120...140 V; pulse repetition frequency 120...140 Hz. The study of the shape and morphology of the surface of particles obtained by EED of waste of a tungsten-free hard alloy TN20 was carried out on an electron-ion scanning (scanning) microscope with field emission of electrons "QUANTA 600 FEG" (the Netherlands). The average particle size of titanium powder was studied using the Analysette 22 NanoTec laser particle size analyzer (Germany). Optimization of the processes of dispersion of waste of tungsten-free hard alloy TN20 was carried out by setting up a complete factorial experiment on the average particle size of the resulting erosive particles according to block diagrams.Results. Analysis of the particle shape parameters of the carbide powder from images from a scanning microscope suggests that the electroerosive particles are mainly spherical in shape and agglomerates. It has been experimentally established that the average particle size of a carbide powder of 24.4 microns is obtained with a discharge capacitor capacity of 63 UF, an electrode voltage of 200 V, and a pulse repetition frequency of 200 Hz.Conclusion. Carrying out the planned measures will solve the problem of recycling waste from TN20 alloy and their reuse in the production of cutting tools.