Effect of discharge parameters on surface integrity and microstructure in electro discharge layering of Ni–Cr composite coating on AA2024 aluminium alloy

Abstract In the present research, an attempt was made to create a nickel–chromium (Ni–Cr) composite layer on AA2024 aluminum alloy using electrical discharge layering (EDL). The electrode was fabricated with a composition of Ni50:Cr50 under a compaction pressure of 400 MPa using the powder metallurg...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: C. Asokan, U. Elaiyarasan, Malinee Sriariyanun, P. Baranitharan, S. R. Kalaivani
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2025-06-01
Series:Discover Materials
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s43939-025-00303-w
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849691398740115456
author C. Asokan
U. Elaiyarasan
Malinee Sriariyanun
P. Baranitharan
S. R. Kalaivani
author_facet C. Asokan
U. Elaiyarasan
Malinee Sriariyanun
P. Baranitharan
S. R. Kalaivani
author_sort C. Asokan
collection DOAJ
description Abstract In the present research, an attempt was made to create a nickel–chromium (Ni–Cr) composite layer on AA2024 aluminum alloy using electrical discharge layering (EDL). The electrode was fabricated with a composition of Ni50:Cr50 under a compaction pressure of 400 MPa using the powder metallurgy method. During the EDL process, various parameters such as discharge current (I) − 3 A, 5 A, 7 A; pulse-on time (Ton) − 25 µs, 50 µs, 75 µs; and pulse-off time (Toff) − 4 µs, 6 µs, 8 µs, were regulated to improve the deposition rate (DR) and surface roughness (SR). The microstructure and elemental composition of the Ni–Cr coating were analyzed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), respectively. The results revealed that the DR increased with higher levels of I, Ton, and Toff. The highest DR of 0.435 g/min was achieved at 7 A, 75 µs, and 6 µs, while the lowest SR of 3.59 µm was recorded. SR increased with rising Ton and Toff values but decreased with increasing I. SEM analysis indicated the formation of larger craters at 7 A due to higher energy sparking. At a Ton of 25 µs, shallow craters were observed, whereas, at 75 µs, globular structures were formed, attributed to enhanced energy absorption. EDS analysis confirmed the presence of elements from both the AA2024 alloy and the electrode. The percentages of electrode elements in the coating were 34.32% Ni and 28.64% Cr. This study concluded that the composite electrode and optimal parametric settings play a crucial role in enhancing DR and SR.
format Article
id doaj-art-86a6e071aad2464b98ec0f0d893ddf3d
institution DOAJ
issn 2730-7727
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Springer
record_format Article
series Discover Materials
spelling doaj-art-86a6e071aad2464b98ec0f0d893ddf3d2025-08-20T03:21:02ZengSpringerDiscover Materials2730-77272025-06-015111110.1007/s43939-025-00303-wEffect of discharge parameters on surface integrity and microstructure in electro discharge layering of Ni–Cr composite coating on AA2024 aluminium alloyC. Asokan0U. Elaiyarasan1Malinee Sriariyanun2P. Baranitharan3S. R. Kalaivani4Department of Automobile Engineering, SNS College of TechnologyCentre for Sustainable Materials and Surface Metamorphosis, Chennai Institute of TechnologyBiorefinery and Process Automation Engineering Center, Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, The Sirindhorn International Thai-German Graduate School of Engineering, King Mongkut’s University of Technology North BangkokBiorefinery and Process Automation Engineering Center, Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, The Sirindhorn International Thai-German Graduate School of Engineering, King Mongkut’s University of Technology North BangkokDepartment of Chemistry, SNS College of TechnologyAbstract In the present research, an attempt was made to create a nickel–chromium (Ni–Cr) composite layer on AA2024 aluminum alloy using electrical discharge layering (EDL). The electrode was fabricated with a composition of Ni50:Cr50 under a compaction pressure of 400 MPa using the powder metallurgy method. During the EDL process, various parameters such as discharge current (I) − 3 A, 5 A, 7 A; pulse-on time (Ton) − 25 µs, 50 µs, 75 µs; and pulse-off time (Toff) − 4 µs, 6 µs, 8 µs, were regulated to improve the deposition rate (DR) and surface roughness (SR). The microstructure and elemental composition of the Ni–Cr coating were analyzed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), respectively. The results revealed that the DR increased with higher levels of I, Ton, and Toff. The highest DR of 0.435 g/min was achieved at 7 A, 75 µs, and 6 µs, while the lowest SR of 3.59 µm was recorded. SR increased with rising Ton and Toff values but decreased with increasing I. SEM analysis indicated the formation of larger craters at 7 A due to higher energy sparking. At a Ton of 25 µs, shallow craters were observed, whereas, at 75 µs, globular structures were formed, attributed to enhanced energy absorption. EDS analysis confirmed the presence of elements from both the AA2024 alloy and the electrode. The percentages of electrode elements in the coating were 34.32% Ni and 28.64% Cr. This study concluded that the composite electrode and optimal parametric settings play a crucial role in enhancing DR and SR.https://doi.org/10.1007/s43939-025-00303-wAluminium alloyDeposition rateElectrical discharge layeringNickel–chromium composite layerSurface roughness
spellingShingle C. Asokan
U. Elaiyarasan
Malinee Sriariyanun
P. Baranitharan
S. R. Kalaivani
Effect of discharge parameters on surface integrity and microstructure in electro discharge layering of Ni–Cr composite coating on AA2024 aluminium alloy
Discover Materials
Aluminium alloy
Deposition rate
Electrical discharge layering
Nickel–chromium composite layer
Surface roughness
title Effect of discharge parameters on surface integrity and microstructure in electro discharge layering of Ni–Cr composite coating on AA2024 aluminium alloy
title_full Effect of discharge parameters on surface integrity and microstructure in electro discharge layering of Ni–Cr composite coating on AA2024 aluminium alloy
title_fullStr Effect of discharge parameters on surface integrity and microstructure in electro discharge layering of Ni–Cr composite coating on AA2024 aluminium alloy
title_full_unstemmed Effect of discharge parameters on surface integrity and microstructure in electro discharge layering of Ni–Cr composite coating on AA2024 aluminium alloy
title_short Effect of discharge parameters on surface integrity and microstructure in electro discharge layering of Ni–Cr composite coating on AA2024 aluminium alloy
title_sort effect of discharge parameters on surface integrity and microstructure in electro discharge layering of ni cr composite coating on aa2024 aluminium alloy
topic Aluminium alloy
Deposition rate
Electrical discharge layering
Nickel–chromium composite layer
Surface roughness
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s43939-025-00303-w
work_keys_str_mv AT casokan effectofdischargeparametersonsurfaceintegrityandmicrostructureinelectrodischargelayeringofnicrcompositecoatingonaa2024aluminiumalloy
AT uelaiyarasan effectofdischargeparametersonsurfaceintegrityandmicrostructureinelectrodischargelayeringofnicrcompositecoatingonaa2024aluminiumalloy
AT malineesriariyanun effectofdischargeparametersonsurfaceintegrityandmicrostructureinelectrodischargelayeringofnicrcompositecoatingonaa2024aluminiumalloy
AT pbaranitharan effectofdischargeparametersonsurfaceintegrityandmicrostructureinelectrodischargelayeringofnicrcompositecoatingonaa2024aluminiumalloy
AT srkalaivani effectofdischargeparametersonsurfaceintegrityandmicrostructureinelectrodischargelayeringofnicrcompositecoatingonaa2024aluminiumalloy