ELECTRODE MATERIAL FOR ELECTRIC DISCHARGE MACHINING AND METHOD FOR PRODUCTION THEREOF

摘要

A W-Cu alloy based electrode material for use in electric discharge machining consisting of 40 wt % or more of W (1), 15 wt % or less of an additive element or its compound (3) and the balanced amount of Cu (2), characterized in that it contains, as the additive element or its compound(3), 10 wt % or less of at least one of alkali metal elements, alkaline earth metal elements, rare earth elements, and oxides, hydroxides, nitrides, borides and sulfides of these elements, and in that particles of such an element or compound present in the material has an average particle diameter of less than 3 mum or less or the particles are present with an average distance between them of 20 mum or less. 30 % or more of W (1) particles preferably have a particle diameter of 1 mum or less. The material may further contain 10 wt % or less of Ni. The above electrode material exhibits a reduced consumption of electrode and an enhanced machining rate as compared to conventional materials, and is excellent in electric discharge machining characteristics.