In electric discharge machining (EDM), metal removal phenomena and quality of products are affected by the mass transfered and degenerated surface layer formed on the workpiece material, consequently the nature and behavior of the degenerated layer must by studied precisely.
In this paper, the surfaces of eroded electrodes (tool electrode and workpiece) were observed qualitatively and quantitatively by ultimate analysis to show their connection with working conditions and others, employing mainly scanning electron microscope and X-ray microanalyser.
Consequently, it became clear that the condition of eroded electrodes was influenced considerably by electrode polarity, peak discharge current (Ip), energy supplying duration (τ), working area, materials combination (thermophysical properties) of electrodes and the others.
The changes of material and condition on surface of tool electrode in process of EDM affect the mechanism of electron emission and others, in its turn influence considerably to working (removal) characteristics. And further, as the changes of material and condition on eroded workpiece convert its thermophysical properties, working (removal) characteristics are affected hardly.