Assessing the efficiency of environmentally sustainable cutting fluids in industrial machining applications

The drive towards sustainable manufacturing processes has led to a renewed focus on environmentally friendly alternatives in the industrial sector. Initially, the technological evolution focused on efficiency while overlooking the harmful consequences for operators and the environment. However, increasing concerns about environmental pollution and the need to comply with regulations prompted revisions in cutting fluid compositions to eliminate toxic agents with detrimental environmental impacts. This study meticulously examines the potential of various vegetable oils, including babassu, canola, cotton, corn, soya, and sunflower, as cutting fluids, comparing their performance to the well-established commercial oil LB2000. The assessment encompasses critical parameters, notably wettability, cooling efficiency, and lubricity. Our findings indicate that these edible oils exhibit behaviors closely mirroring those of the industry-standard LB2000, affirming their compatibility with machining operations. The adoption of edible oils as cutting fluids presents a compelling avenue, underpinned by their biodegradability and the prevailing global inclination towards reducing reliance on petroleum-based cutting fluids. In terms of practicality, these tested vegetable oils demonstrate remarkable suitability as cutting fluids, offering enhanced lubricity, particularly in the cutting region. Supplementary tests, spanning wetting properties, cooling capabilities, and lubricity, reaffirmed these vegetable oils' efficacy as cutting fluids, squarely within the boundaries of acceptability for industrial machining. In summary, this investigation highlights the viability of vegetable oils as sustainable and high-performance substitutes for conventional cutting fluids in industrial applications.