Tribological Performance of Different Concentrations of Al2O3 Nanofluids on Minimum Quantity Lubrication Milling

Nanofluid minimum quantity lubrication (NMQL) is a green processing technology. Cottonseed oil is suitable as base oil because of excellent lubrication performance, low freezing temperature, and high yield. Al2O3 nanoparticles improve not only the heat transfer capacity but also the lubrication performance. The physical and chemical properties of nanofluid change when Al2O3 nanoparticles are added. However, the effects of the concentration of nanofluid on lubrication performance remain unknown. Furthermore, the mechanisms of interaction between Al2O3 nanoparticles and cottonseed oil are unclear. In this research, nanofluid is prepared by adding different mass concentrations of Al2O3 nanoparticles (0, 0.2%, 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2% wt) to cottonseed oil during minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) milling 45 steel. The tribological properties of nanofluid with different concentrations at the tool/workpiece interface are studied through macro-evaluation parameters (milling force, specific energy) and micro-evaluation parameters (surface roughness, micro morphology, contact angle). The result show that the specific energy is at the minimum (114 J/mm3), and the roughness value is the lowest (1.63 μm) when the concentration is 0.5 wt%. The surfaces of the chip and workpiece are the smoothest, and the contact angle is the lowest, indicating that the tribological properties are the best under 0.5 wt%. This research investigates the intercoupling mechanisms of Al2O3 nanoparticles and cottonseed base oil, and acquires the optimal Al2O3 nanofluid concentration to receive satisfactory tribological properties.