Title: An investigation into the application of Al₂O₃nanofluid-based minimum quantity lubrication technique for grinding of Ti-6Al-4V

Authors: Dinesh Setti; Manoj Kumar Sinha; Sudarsan Ghosh; P. Venkateswara Rao

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, New Delhi 110016, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, New Delhi 110016, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, New Delhi 110016, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, New Delhi 110016, India

Abstract: Nanofluids, suspensions of nanoparticles in base fluid, has shown attractive cooling and lubricating properties. The nano-coolants and nano-lubricants find applications in a wide variety of materials processing technologies. It is anticipated that, if properly employed, nanofluids usage could surpass the conventional cutting fluids in the future. Minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) technique also, has achieved a significant consideration in manufacturing processes to minimise the environmental loads caused by the usage of traditional cutting fluids. The aim of this work is to examine the potential of Al₂O₃ nanofluid under MQL mode to improve the grinding characteristics of Ti-6Al-4V alloy. 1% Volume concentration of water-based Al₂O₃ nanofluid was applied during the surface grinding operation using an indigenously developed MQL setup and the results have been compared with those of conventional coolant under both flood cooling and MQL mode.

Keywords: nanofluids; Ti-6Al-4V; MQL; minimum quantity lubrication; grinding; Al2O3; alumina; aluminium oxide; tribofilm; difficult to machine materials; surface integrity; nanotechnology; titanium superalloys; nanoparticles; nano-coolants; nano-lubricants; flood cooling.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPTECH.2014.067742

International Journal of Precision Technology, 2014 Vol.4 No.3/4, pp.268 - 279

Received: 16 Jun 2014
Accepted: 19 Nov 2014
Published online: 28 Feb 2015 *

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