LAUSR

Abstract The present research work aims to investigate the micro-mechanical behaviour of the superficial layer synthesized on Ti64 alloy by the electric discharge machining process. The top surface, cross-section morphology, and elemental composition of the superficial layer have been investigated by FE-SEM, EDS, and TEM. The micromechanical behaviour of the superficial layer was studied by micro-pillar compression and nanoindentation technique. The top and cross-section morphology showed the discharge-craters, micro-cracks, and brittle structure that reduced the mechanical performance. In-situ compression stress-strain and nano-indentation analysis revealed that the superficial layer exhibits high surface hardness and brittle-structure, which failed under compression loading without any visible strain accommodation. The results have shown that the surface characteristics are unavoidable and undesirable, which require post-surface treatments to eliminate for better performance of the product.