Tribological behaviour of nanofluids under minimum quantity lubrication in turning of AISI 1055 steel

The objective of the present study is to investigate the tribology characteristics of aluminium (Al2O3) nanoparticles as an additive in vegetable oil during machining with minimum quantity of lubrication. The effect of minimum quantity nanofluid lubrication (MQ(nf)L) on the cutting forces, surface roughness, and cutting tool wear during the turning process of medium carbon steel (AISI 1055) has been evaluated and compared with the pure minimum quantity lubrication (MQL), flood and dry turning. For the MQ(nf)L, the nano-alumina (Al2O3) particles of 20 eta m size are used with soybean oil in 1% and 3% w/v concentration. The experiments are conducted at two cutting speeds of 38 mm/m and 60 mm/m with varying two feed values of 0.06 mm/rev and 0.11 mm/rev under above mentioned lubricating conditions. The results showed that MQ(nf)L and pure MQL are much more efficient as compared to other lubrication conditions, in terms of improving surface quality, lower cutting forces and reducing tool wear. Further, as the concern with MQ(nf)L, the 1% concentration of nano-particles is more effectual than 3% to reduce overall cutting forces where as 3% MQ(nf)L revealed outstanding cutting performance in terms of tool wear. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.