Precise machining of micro parts from difficult-to-cut materials requires using advanced technology such as wire electrical discharge machining (WEDM). In order to enhance the productivity of micro WEDM, the key role is understanding the influence of process parameters on the surface topography and the material’s removal rate (MRR). Furthermore, effective models which allow us to predict the influence of the parameters of micro-WEDM on the qualitative effects of the process are required. This paper influences the discharge energy, time interval, and wire speed on the surface topography’s properties, namely Sa, Sk, Spk, Svk, and MRR, after micro-WEDM of Inconel 718 were described. Developed RSM and ANN model of the micro-WEDM process, showing that the discharge energy had the main influence (over 70%) on the surface topography’s parameters. However, for MRR, the time interval was also significant. Furthermore, a reduction in wire speed can lead to a decrease in the cost process and have a positive influence on the environment and sustainability of the process. Evaluation of developed prediction models of micro-WEDM of Inconel 718 indicates that ANN had a lower value for the relative error compared with the RSM models and did not exceed 4%.

The aim of the work was carried out research on the causes cracking formed aluminum work pieces in the assortment of rods, which sometimes occur in the mechanical machining (turning, drilling) for alloys of Al-Cu. A typical representative for ...

Ag-decorated TiO₂ nanostructured materials are promising photocatalysts. We used non-standard cryo-lyophilization and ArF laser ablation methods to produce TiO₂ nanosheets and TiO₂ nanostructured thin films decorated with Ag nanoparticles. Both methods have a common advantage in that they provide a single multiply twinned Ag⁽⁰⁾ characterized by {111} twin boundaries. Advanced microscopy techniques and electron diffraction patterns revealed the formation of multiply twinned Ag⁽⁰⁾ structures at elevated temperatures (500 °C and 800 °C). The photocatalytic activity was demonstrated by the efficient degradation of 4-chlorophenol and Total Organic Carbon removal using Ag-TiO₂ nanosheets, because the multiply twinned Ag⁽⁰⁾ served as an immobilized photocatalytically active center. Ag-TiO₂ nanostructured thin films decorated with multiply twinned Ag⁽⁰⁾ achieved improved photoelectrochemical water splitting due to the additional induction of a plasmonic effect. The photocatalytic properties of TiO₂ nanosheets and TiO₂ nanostructured thin films were correlated with the presence of defect-twinned structures formed from Ag⁽⁰⁾ nanoparticles with a narrow size distribution, tuned to between 10 and 20 nm. This work opens up new possibilities for understanding the defects generated in Ag-TiO₂ nanostructured materials and paves the way for connecting their morphology with their photocatalytic activity.

Commercially supplied inoculation wires have a guaranteed chemical composition but not the size and distribution of individual phases, which are very important for nucleation. Therefore, two commercial alloys used for the inoculation of Al-Si alloys (AlTi3B1 and AlTi5B1) are investigated in this paper. The emphasis is placed on their structural analysis and the size and distribution of individual intermetallic phases. Furthermore, the grain refinement effect will be tested by adding these alloys to the AlSi7Mg0.3 alloy and testing the optimal amount of added inoculation wires. The results showed that the size and distribution of the individual phases in AlTi3B1 and AlTi5B1 meet the requirements for the successful inoculation of aluminum alloys, the intermetallic phases based on the TiAl₃ phase are fine enough, and there is no agglomeration that would reduce the number of nuclei. This assumption was confirmed by adding these inoculants to the AlSi7Mg0.3 alloy, and it was found that the most ideal amount of inoculants added is 0.01 wt % when the structure was refined by approximately 32%.

The aim of the research was to analyze the delivered profile samples, where appeared the darker spots with an irregular circular shape on the surface of light colored profiles after process of natural anodizing without colouration. Profiles ar...