Improvements of the MQL Cooling-Lubrication Condition by the Addition of Multilayer Graphene Platelets in Peripheral Grinding of SAE 52100 Steel

Abstract

In most grinding processes, the use of cutting fluid is required, and research has been carried out to reduce the amount of fluid used due to costs and environmental impacts. However, such a reduction of fluid can result in thermal damage to the machined component because the amount of cutting fluid may not be sufficient to lubricate and cool the system. One way of improving the cutting fluid properties is to add micro or nanoparticles of solid lubricants. This paper aims to evaluate the performance of multilayer graphene platelets dispersed in cutting fluid and applied through the technique of minimum quantity of lubrication (MQL) during the peripheral surface grinding of SAE 52100 hardened steel. In this sense, the influence of these solid particles with respect to the surface and sub-surface integrity of the machined components was analyzed, performing the roughness and microhardness measurement and analyzing the ground surfaces. The results showed that the cooling–lubrication conditions employing graphene could obtain smaller roughness values and decreases of microhardness in relation to the reference value and components with better surface texture compared to the conventional MQL technique without solid particles.

Tool Wear Mechanism and Grinding Performance for Different Cooling-Lubrication Modes in Grinding of Nickel-Based Superalloys

“…Salur et al [18] and Şap et al [19] reported comparative studies of machinability under dry mode and MQL mode, and experimental results showed that MQL mode provided more effective protection for tools by the hybridized pressured air and greasing effect from the oil-film when compared to dry environment. Additionally, in order to enhance the base oil thermal conductivity and lubricant antifriction aspects, some works [20,21] added nanoparticles, such as graphene, multilayer graphene (MG), Al 2 O 3 nanoparticles, and diamond nanoparticles, into the base oil, which was termed as the nanofluid [22]. Due to the advantaged properties of MG involving high thermal conductivity, Li et al [23] adopted MG as lubricating oil additive to investigate the performance of an MG nanofluid during machining.…”

Performance of MQL and Nano-MQL Lubrication in Machining ER7 Steel for Train Wheel Applications

“…Although cutting fluids can improve the machining process, they may have negative effects on the environment (disposal and recycling) and human health (skin irritation). To minimize the negative effects of cutting fluids, minimum quantity lubrication techniques were developed which use small amounts of coolants mixed with air to reduce the amount of fluid used during the machining process [20,21].…”

Experimental Investigation and Performance Optimization during Machining of Hastelloy C-276 Using Green Lubricants

“…In addition to this, oil-based cooling is still the best option for the machining of ferrous and super alloys compared to cryogenic cooling [ 39 ]. An investigation on the drilling of lighter alloys AZ91 revealed the influence of input parameter on machining performance [ 43 , 44 ]. Moreover, the various nano-fluids mixed with vegetable oil used for MQL were enlisted as Al 2 O 3 , MoS 2 , SiO 2 , CNT, Nanoplatelet and ZrO 2 [ 43 , 44 , 45 ].…”

“…An investigation on the drilling of lighter alloys AZ91 revealed the influence of input parameter on machining performance [ 43 , 44 ]. Moreover, the various nano-fluids mixed with vegetable oil used for MQL were enlisted as Al 2 O 3 , MoS 2 , SiO 2 , CNT, Nanoplatelet and ZrO 2 [ 43 , 44 , 45 ]. From the literature study, it has been concluded that vegetable-based oil MQL has a potential as a sustainable cooling technique for machining the different categories of ferrous and other materials.…”

“…Thus, the usage of such types of oils should be a good alternative to the traditional mineral-based oil [ 61 , 62 ]. The demand for synthetic oil is increasing due to polyalphaolefins (PAO), synthetic esters and polyalkylene glycols (PAG) that have lower environmental hazards compared to mineral oil [ 44 , 45 , 63 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 ]. From Figure 6 , it is clear that an aliphatic diester-based synthetic cutting fluid has the best performance in selected properties, followed by PAO and Polyol ester, then after that, phosphate ester.…”