Material synthesis, characterization, and machining performance of stir cast beryllium copper alloy composites

Copper alloys have important industrial roles due to their excellent properties. Beryllium copper is one of the copper-based alloys with the highest strength and excellent metal working and machining properties. Beryllium copper alloy composite is fabricated by the stir casting method. Its characteristics are studied with scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive analysis of X-rays. The material properties of the stir cast beryllium copper alloy composites are evaluated. Hardness can be increased by the addition of silicon carbide particles. Abrasive water jet machining is an effective unconventional machining process, in which high pressure water jet and abrasive particles are used to remove material. Response parameters such as material removal rate and circularity of holes are considered. Response parameters of abrasive water jet machining are compared to electrical discharge machining. The most influential factor for the responses is determined by analysis of variance. Optimization of machining parameters is performed with the Taguchi method.