Improving the surface properties of pure aluminum using Monel 400 by Electrical Discharge Alloying (EDA)

Surface engineering in many manufacturing industries plays an important role in improving product performance and increasing the operating time of parts. Pure aluminum has a very high electrical conductivity, good corrosion resistance and strength to weight ratio. However, due to very low hardness and wear resistance, its application is limited. Therefore, this paper is studied may improve the surface properties of pure aluminum using copper and nickel as alloying elements using electric discharge process. The pulse on time and pulse current as input parameters and surface hardness, alloyed layer texture and surface roughness as output parameters have been considered. According to the microhardness testing results, in this alloying method, the average hardness of the aluminum parts is about more than 8 times and in some parts of the 38.5 Vickers reached up to 450 Vickers, Based on the results of XRD analysis, the formation of intermetallic compounds Al3Ni2, ALCu, and Al4C3 increased surface hardness. The results show that by increasing the pulse on time surface hardness increased and surface roughness becomes greater. Also, Increasing pulse current the surface roughness increasing trend.