Effect of Graphene Nanofluid on Machining Inconel 718

Abstract

Cutting fluids have superior convective and conductive heat transfer coefficient, good lubrication and better chip removal rate from the cutting zone. But when applied in large quantities, as flood machining, its treatment, and disposal increase the economic burden on industries. Application of just sufficient quantity of cutting fluid exactly at the cutting zone as Minimum Quantity Lubrication (MQL) is found to be an alternative approach to flood machining. But it requires the use of cutting fluids with enhanced properties. Researchers suggested that nanofluid is the latest concept to achieve high performance of cooling and lubrication effect in machining. This project mainly focuses on performance evaluation of Minimum Quantity Lubrication (MQL) application of graphene nano cutting fluid while turning Inconel 718 alloy at constant cutting conditions. Different weight proportions (0.1wt%, 0.3wt%, 0.5wt%) of graphene are mixed with soluble oil using TX 100 as a surfactant. Machining performance is evaluated by measuring cutting forces, cutting temperature, surface roughness and tool wear. Performance is compared with dry machining and MQL application of cutting fluid without graphene.