Machinability of Ti-6Al-4V Superalloy: Performance of Dry Cutting and Nanofluid MQL (MWCNT-Added Rice Bran Oil)

The present work shows the study of machining performance of Ti-6Al-4V under nanofluid minimum quantity lubrication (NFMQL) condition. Commercially available rice bran oil is used as base cutting fluid, in which multi-walled carbon nanotubes are added to prepare nanocutting fluid. Dominant tool wear mechanisms are identified. Influence of machining duration on evolution of cutting force, approximate tool-tip temperature, progression depth of flank wear, area of crater wear, workpiece surface roughness, etc., is studied in detail and compared to that of dry machining (without coolant). Chip morphological (macro/micro) study is also carried out. It is experienced that NFMQL performs better than traditional dry cutting. When compared to dry machining, NFMQL results in 62.7%, 8.69%, 42%, and 12.8% reduction in tool-tip temperature, tangential component of cutting force, depth of flank wear, and product surface roughness, respectively.