Electrochemical dissolution behavior and electrochemical jet machining characteristics of titanium alloy in high concentration salt solution

TB6 titanium alloy has the characteristics of high strength, high fatigue life, and low stiffness, making it a favored choice for critical load-bearing components in helicopters and large passenger aircraft. However, it is difficult to realize efficient and high-quality processing of TB6 by using traditional mechanical cutting technology because of its inherent characteristics. Electrochemical jet machining technology can dissolve materials through electrochemistry, which has prominent advantages such as no cutting force and high processing flexibility, making it a promising method for achieving efficient and high-quality TB6 titanium alloy processing. This paper focuses on the electrochemical dissolution behaviors of TB6 titanium alloy, as well as the electrochemical jet machining characteristics. The current efficiency and polarization curves of TB6 titanium alloy in different solutions were tested at different temperatures. The phenomenon of bubble generation and black product falling during the test was captured. The surface dissolution process of TB6 titanium alloy at different current densities was investigated through scanning electron microscope pictures. Finally, the electrochemical jet machining experiment was conducted. The surface characteristics of the micro-grooves obtained by electrochemical jet machining, including morphology, cross-sectional profile, and surface roughness, were explored. The research findings revealed that, at high current densities exceeding 200 A/cm², electrochemical dissolution exhibited greater uniformity while stray corrosion was significantly reduced. Excellent surface quality with a minimum surface roughness of Ra 0.373 μm was achieved in electrochemical jet machining of TB6 titanium alloy with 20 wt% NaCl solution.