Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Titanium alloys are widely used in aerospace and other industries owing to their low density, high strength, and excellent corrosion resistance, yet their machinability remains challenging. Electrochemical machining (ECM) is a promising non-contact approach; however, the formation of a stable passive film on titanium alloys often suppresses anodic dissolution in scanning ECM. In this study, we propose laser-assisted scanning ECM using an electrolyte suction tool, in which nanosecond laser irradiation locally disrupts the passive film and activates electrochemical dissolution. Parametric experiments identified conditions that produced a V-shaped groove along the laser path even when ECM alone was ineffective. The optimized parameters were an applied voltage of 9.0 V, a laser fluence of 0.5 J/cm 2 , a scanning speed of 0.25 mm/s, and a 2.0 s irradiation followed by a 2.0 s interval. In addition, extending the voltage application time to 12.0 s after laser irradiation improved groove uniformity. High-speed observation of the electrolyte film during scanning indicated that vigorous bubble generation at higher laser fluences disturbed the current distrubusion, whereas stable machining was achieved by using a lower laser fluence and a slower scanning speed. These results demonstrate that controlling laser activation and post-irradiation voltage duration enables localized pattern machining of Ti-6Al-4 V.
Source: Scientific Reports
Authors: Shuhei Kodama, Ibuki Okuma, Wataru Natsu
Language: English
Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,690
OpenAlex ID: W7154458532