A comparative analysis of grinding of AISI D2 tool steel under different environments

Difficult-to-cut material, i.e., AISI D2 tool steel, has been widely adopted in metalworking industries to manufacture dies for piercing, blanking, drawing and thread rolling due to its excellent wear resistance and non-deforming properties. This article attempts an experimental study to determine the effect of cryogenic coolant (liquid nitrogen) on the grindability of AISI D2 tool steel as work material and its results are compared with the conventional dry and wet grinding methods. The effects of the cryogenic coolant on force components (i.e., tangential force, F-t and normal force, F-n), specific grinding energy (u), force ratio, surface roughness parameters (R-a and R-z) and microstructure were observed. The comparison results indicate a significant reduction in grindability indices such as 64% and 44% in F-t, 54% and 34% in F-n, 46% and 30% in R-a and 40% and 34% in R-z, respectively under cryogenic grinding at higher downfeed as followed to dry and wet grinding. The grinding performance in F-t, F-n, u and R-a was also improved with an increased delivery pressure of the liquid nitrogen (LN2). From the results, it is concluded that cryogenic coolant offers an influential method to improve grinding performance and surface integrity of AISI D2 tool steel.