Efficacy of Nanocutting Fluids in Machining-an Experimental Investigation

This paper presents the experimental investigations on the performance of eco-friendly vegetable oil based nanofluids in turning operation. In order to assess the quality of nano cutting fluids used during machining, cutting temperatures, cutting forces, tool wear and surface roughness under constant cutting conditions are measured. The influence of two types of nanofluids prepared from nano boric acid (NBA) and carbon nanotubes (CNT) mixed separately with coconut oil (CC), on machining performance during turning operation is examined. Comparative analysis of the results obtained is done under dry, soluble oil (SL) and lubricant environments at constant cutting conditions and 0.25% nano particle inclusions (NPI). To understand the influence of NPI experiments were conducted using CCNBA and CCCNT at varying NPI as well. Results obtained using cutting fluids prepared from vegetable oil based nanofluids are encouraging and more pronouncing by the application of CCCNT at machining zone. The extent of improvement in reduction of cutting temperatures, main cutting force, tool wear and surface roughness is tracked to be 13%, 37.5%, 44% and 40% respectively by the application of CCCNT compared to dry machining. It was found that application of CCNBA and CCCNT at 0.5% NPI is more effective in improving the machining performance.