Mathematical optimization of the average particle size of powders obtained by electroerosive dispersion of heat-resistant nickel alloy ZHS6U

Currently, one of the main problems of using the heat-resistant nickel alloy ZhS6U is associated with the presence of expensive components in its composition, such as Ni, Ti, Mo, Co, etc. and the need to reuse it by grinding. One of the effective, but insufficiently studied metallurgical methods of grinding metal waste is electrodispersion. To date, in the modern scientific and technical literature there is no complete information about the composition, structure and properties of the particles of the ZhS6U alloy obtained in the conditions of electroerosive metallurgy.
In order to predict the high physical and mechanical properties of products from the resulting charge, it was necessary to optimize the modes of electroerosive dispersion of waste of the ZhS6U alloy by the method of experiment planning. For a charge with a spherical particle shape, one of the main technological parameters is the optimal granulometric composition, therefore, the optimization of the process of obtaining the charge from the waste of the ZhS6U alloy was carried out according to the average particle size. The electroerosive dispersion of the waste of the ZhS6U alloy was carried out on an experimental installation (RF Patent No. 2449859). As a result of exposure to short-term electrical discharges, particles of various shapes and sizes were formed. Optimization of the process of electrodispersion of particles obtained by the EED of the waste of the ZhS6U alloy was carried out by experimental determination of a combination of levels of factors at which the required value of the average diameter of the particles of the electroerosion charge was achieved. To do this, the method of steep ascent of Box and Wilson was used. Optimization of the process of electrodispersion of waste of the ZhS6U alloy in distilled water and lighting kerosene was carried out taking into account such factors as the voltage at the electrodes, the capacity of the discharge capacitors and the pulse repetition frequency.
According to the conducted series of experiments, the limiting values of the optimization parameter for the average size of electroerosive particles were determined, which were: for distilled water – 50.4 microns with a capacity of discharge capacitors of 65.5 UF, a voltage at the electrodes of 200 V, a pulse repetition frequency of 200 Hz; for lighting kerosene - 58.4 microns with a capacity of discharge capacitors of 65.5 UF, a voltage at the electrodes of 200 V, a pulse repetition frequency of 200 Hz.
Carrying out the planned measures will solve the problem of recycling heat-resistant nickel alloy waste and their reuse in the manufacture of critical parts of mechanical engineering.