PROPERTIES OF COMPACTED, PRE-SINTERED AND FULLY SINTERED ELECTRODES PRODUCED BY POWDER-METALLURGY FOR ELECTRICAL-DISCHARGE MACHINING

The performance of electrodes is an important aspect in electrical dis charge machining (EDM). For any particular set of working conditions, the tool electrode performance is mainly determined by the electrical, thermal, physical and mechanical properties of the electrode material . Although an ideal material that can function as a perfect electrode does not exist, powder metallurgy provides a means of combining the de sirable characteristics of different materials. In this process, powde r characteristics, interaction between powder and compacting die as we ll as sintering conditions are decisive factors. Dependence of the phy sical, electrical and thermo-mechanical properties of the compacts on the conditions used during powder metallurgy processing of the electro des for EDM has been investigated.