Comparison of slurry effect on machining characteristics of titanium in ultrasonic drilling

This paper initially reviews machining of titanium and its alloys with three different slurries (namely silicon carbide, boron carbide and alumina) and details background work on machinability of the same in ultrasonic drilling. Experimental research has been subsequently presented on the production of 5 mm diameter holes in pure titanium (TITAN15, ASTM Gr2) and titanium alloy (TITAN31, ASTM Gr.5) using ultrasonic drilling. This entailed the use of a 20 kHz piezoelectric transducer with three solid tools of stainless steel, titanium and high-speed steel, operating in silicon carbide, boron carbide and alumina slurry. The data presented includes main effect plots for material removal rate and tool wear rate. The results suggested that boron carbide slurry and stainless steel tool was giving best material removal rate. Also relative hardness of tool–work piece affects the material removal rate in ultrasonic machining.