- Fundamentals of electrochemical processes
- Materials
- New electrochemical processes
- Process control/process monitoring
- Simulation and modeling
- Process digital twins and applications of AI
- Applications of electrochemical processes
- Hybrid electrochemical processes
Besides conventional ECM applications such as the machining of aircraft and automotive components, consumer products such as shaver heads and fluid dynamic bearings, polishing, and finishing of surgical tools and implant components, ECM is gaining significant attention in micromachining and surface texturing. Novel ECM tool designs and materials have also enabled the fabrication of complex features which were difficult to realize with conventional means. As for ECM materials used, besides conventional metals, advanced and difficult-to-cut materials are drawing widespread interest, such as cemented tungsten carbides, silicon carbides, niobium carbides, titanium, Inconel, bulk metallic glasses, shape memory alloys, high-entropy alloys, and metal composites. Electrochemical machining of additively manufactured metals is also a growing field of research. The development of advanced energy sources for a localized and controllable ECM process is progressing, together with novel EC-based hybrid machining concepts like laser-ECM, plasma-electrolytic polishing, grinding assisted ECM, ECDM, etc., all further enhancing machining capabilities. Highly advanced multiphysics and multiscale simulations facilitate fundamental analysis for gaining more scientific insight into the ECM process. High-speed imaging-based process observations also provide useful insights into the process. The introduction of Industry 4.0 was the main driver for developing ECM process digital twins, in-process monitoring using on-machine sensors, capturing process data from model-based virtual sensors, and AI-based techniques for predicting the results of the ECM process.