Effects of Sodium Octaborate on AISI 4140 Steel Machined by Die-sinking EDM

Researchers are constantly developing processes aiming to improve the properties of metal surfaces, especially related wear resistance components, as in case nitrided layer obtained by die-sinking electrical discharge machining (EDM). Following this line research, work investigated effects sodium octaborate (Na2B8O13.4H2O), mixed into deionized water a dielectric fluid on AISI 4140 steel surfaces machined EDM. An adapted EDM machine was employed process using electrolytic copper tool. The steel-machined were evaluated optical microscopy, Vickers microhardness, X-ray diffraction, and energy dispersion spectroscopy (EDS) analyses. results showed hardness gain approximately 146.8% modified when compared (base material). This suggests formation borided layer, such Fe2B phases identified sample which can be explained boron element decomposed from solution.