Surface quality investigation in high-speed dry milling of Ti-6Al-4V by using 2D ultrasonic-vibration-assisted milling platform

Ultrasonic-vibration-assisted milling(UVAM)is an advanced method for the efficient and precise machining of difficult-to-machine materials in modern manufacturing.However,the milling efficiency is limited because the ultrasonic vibration toolholder ER16 collet has a critical cutting speed.Thus,a 2D UVAM platform is built to ensure precision machining efficiency and improve the surface quality without changing the milling toolholder.To evaluate this 2D UVAM platform,ultrasonic-vibration-assisted high-speed dry milling(UVAHSDM)is performed to process a titanium alloy(Ti-6Al-4V)on the platform,and the milling temperature,surface roughness,and residual stresses are selected as the important indicators for performance analysis.The results show that the intermittent cutting mechanism of UVAHSDM combined with the specific spindle speed,feed speed,and vibration amplitude can reduce the milling temperature and improve the texture of the machined surface.Compared with conventional milling,UVAHSDM reduces surface roughness and peak-groove surface profile values and extends the range of residual surface compressive stresses from−413.96 MPa to−600.18 MPa.The excellent processing performance demonstrates the feasibility and validity of applying this 2D UVAM platform for investigating surface quality achieved under UVAHSDM.

Energy field-assisted high-speed dry milling green machining technology for difficult-to-machine metal materials

Energy field-assisted machining technology has the potential to overcome the limitations of machining difficult-to-machine metal materials,such as poor machinability,low cutting efficiency,and high energy consumption.High-speed dry milling has emerged as a typical green processing technology due to its high processing efficiency and avoidance of cutting fluids.However,the lack of necessary cooling and lubrication in high-speed dry milling makes it difficult to meet the continuous milling requirements for difficult-to-machine metal materials.The introduction of advanced energy-field-assisted green processing technology can improve the machinability of such metallic materials and achieve efficient precision manufacturing,making it a focus of academic and industrial research.In this review,the characteristics and limitations of high-speed dry milling of difficult-to-machine metal materials,including titanium alloys,nickel-based alloys,and high-strength steel,are systematically explored.The laser energy field,ultrasonic energy field,and cryogenic minimum quantity lubrication energy fields are introduced.By analyzing the effects of changing the energy field and cutting parameters on tool wear,chip morphology,cutting force,temperature,and surface quality of the workpiece during milling,the superiority of energy-field-assisted milling of difficult-to-machine metal materials is demonstrated.Finally,the shortcomings and technical challenges of energy-field-assisted milling are summarized in detail,providing feasible ideas for realizing multi-energy field collaborative green machining of difficult-to-machine metal materials in the future.

Dry ball milling and wet ball milling for fabricating copper-yttria composites

Yttria-reinforced copper matrix composites were prepared by dry ball milling （DBM） and wet ball milling （WBM）, respectively, followed by spark plasma sintering （SPS）. It is to determine which milling process is better for fabricating Cu-Y2O3 composites. It is found that Cu-Y2O3 composites synthesized by DBM exhibit better densification, mechanical and electrical properties than those by WBM. Less agglomeration of reinforcements in the bulk composites by DBM is responsible for the better perfor- mances. To further understand the reason of less agglomeration of Y2O3 in the bulks by DBM, morphologies of prepared powders were investigated and analyzed. Higher ball＇s impact energy and the formation of copper oxide on the matrix surface during DBM process contribute to small matrix particles, which is beneficial for less agglomeration.

Ultrasound-enhanced milling in the synthesis of phase-pure, highly crystalline ZnAl-layered double hydroxide of low Zn（II） content

Dry milling followed by ultrasonic irradiation in the presence of small amounts of aqueous NaOH, was used to synthesise ZnAl-layered double hydroxide （LDH）. The synthetic conditions were optimised and the Zn（OH）2, ZnO, and AI（OH）3 contaminants were removed by rinsing with aqueous NH3 solution from the sample prepared in the optimum conditions. Thus, phase-pure ZnAl-layered double hydroxide was obtained with high crystallinity. All materials produced during the syntheses were characterised by X- ray diffractometry, and a rose-like morphology was observed by scanning electron microscopy in the phase-pure sample. By changing the initial Zn/Al ratio, it was revealed that an LDH with low zinc content was always formed, probably through substitution of some of the Zn2. ions by AI3. ions in the gibbsite lattice.

Preparation of Al matrix nanocomposites by diluting the composite granules containing nano-SiCp under ultrasonic vibaration

In this work, an efficient process by diluting the nano-SiCp/Al composite granules in the molten matrix under ultrasonic vibration（UV） was developed to prepare metal matrix nano-composites（MMNCs）.Millimeter-sized composite granules with high content of SiC particle（8 wt%） were specially fabricated by dry high-energy ball milling（HBM） without process control agent, and then remelted and diluted in molten Al alloy under UV. The MMNCs melt was finally squeeze cast under a squeeze pressure of 200 MPa, Microstructure of the composite granules during dry HBM was investigated, and the effect of UV on microstructure and mechanical properties of the MMNCs was discussed. The results indicate that nano-SiC particles are uniformly distributed in the nano-SiCp/Al composite granules, which are covered by vestures of pure Al. During diluting, nano-SiC particles released from the composite granules are quickly dispersed in the molten matrix by UV within 4 min. Microstructure of MMNCs is significantly refined under UV and squeeze casting, eutectic Si phase modified to fine islands with an average length of 1.4 μm. Tensile strength of the squeeze cast MMNCs with 1 wt% of nano-SiC particles is 269 MPa, which is improved by 25% compared with the A356 alloy matrix.

Insights on pretreatment of Indian hematite fines in grate-kiln pelletizing process： the choice of grinding processes

Indian hematite fines are normally characterized by high iron grade and minor impurities, which are usually used for sinter fines. With macroscale operations technology of blast furnace in Indian, pellets, as a kind of high-quality materials, attract more and more attention. However, the hematite fines possess the coarse size. Hence, they inevitably need to be further finely ground for pelletizing before balling. The grinding behavior of Indian hematite fines was revealed by conducting the ball milling tests and determining the Bond ball mill work index （Wi）. The results show that Indian hematite fines have an excellent grindability with Wi of only 7.40-7.73 kWh/t, indicating that ball milling is an economically viable way to pretreat Indian hematite fines. Nonetheless, due to poor sedimentation and filtering properties of wet ground products, the dry ball milling is more appropriate to process Indian hematite fines. In addition, the superior quality green balls can be manufactured with dry ground products under the conditions of 0.5% bentonite dosage, 7.5% moisture and balling for 12 min, which further confirmed that the recommended pellet feed preparation technique is reasonable.