Performance Evaluation of Cutting Fluids with Carbon Nano-Onions as Lubricant Additives

Abstract

In machining of high precision automotive parts, the dimensional variation of the cutting process is very critical. The demand for high quality and fully automated production places a lot of emphasis on the cutting process, which has a major contribution to part quality. Cutting fluid has been a key factor to machining performance and a key contributor to increase the effectiveness of machining systems. In this way, cutting fluids play an important role in minimizing production time, cost, and energy in different machining operations. Maintaining and operating the cutting fluid supplies is a huge cost driver and an environmental challenge. Carbon onion nanoparticles have been successfully developed with high tribology performance and mixed in metalworking fluids (MWF) to improve the performance of the fluids. Even though the trend has been to use less MWF, which is dry or MQL whenever possible, MWF are still utilized in large volumes. The literature has reported several cases of very successful use of nanofluids in machining operations for various tough-to-machine materials. To enhance the coolant, nanoparticles such as carbon nano-onions are mixed in the oil and water-based MWF. The paper presents the results from several tests performed during the evaluation of the above nanoparticles in oil and water based cutting fluids in machining processes.