Application of sustainable techniques in metal cutting for enhanced machinability: a review

Conventional mineral based fluids are being widely used as coolants and lubricants in machining operations throughout the world. However, these cutting fluids are the viable source of many environmental and biological problems. In order to eradicate the ill effects associated with cutting fluids, it is necessary to shift towards sustainable machining techniques. Such sustainable machining techniques use minute quantity of cutting fluid, liquid nitrogen, vegetable oil or compressed air as a cooling-lubrication medium. The fluids used in sustainable machining methods are considered to be totally biodegradable and Eco-friendly. This paper is a thorough review of all the modern sustainable techniques presently practiced in the metal cutting process. It has been also found that these sustainable machining methods most of the time give better results in terms of improved surface quality of the machined component, enhanced tool life, less cutting temperatures and cutting forces as compared to conventional wet machining methods. The main purpose of this review work is to identify the different sustainable techniques and encourage the use of such techniques in metal machining, so that, the cutting process becomes more cost effective and environment friendly. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.