Abstract
As the wire-EDM is based on discharge phenomena in a dielectric fluid, the eroded surface differs markedly from the base materials in many respects of physico-chemical changc caused by severe thermal actions with an extremely high cooling rate. The analyses about property changes of eroded surface are very important problem in relation to the erosion mechanism and quality of products such as surface integrity, some mechanical properties. The paper mentions the characteristics in degenerated zones due to wire-EDM, using ESCA (Electron Spectroscopy for Chemical Analysis) method which is very effective for analysis on extreme surface of 1-2×10-3μm depth and chemical combination of elements. As a result, it was proved the existence of Fe oxide (FeO, Fe2O3), Cr oxide (Cr2O3) and its depth below surface. The density and thickness of wire electrode materials (Cu, Zn) on machined surface were sustained, and it didn't occur oxidization in those materials.
