A review of cooling and lubrication techniques for machining difficult-to-cut material.

Abstract

Superalloys have magnificent properties which make them widely applied in various industrial fields. They possess high mechanical properties such as high strength, high rupture resistance, and high resistance to corrosion and oxidation. Since they can maintain these properties even at elevated temperatures, they face some problems during the cutting and machining process. They are classified as difficult-to-cut alloys, which means that high heat is generated in the cutting zone due to their poor thermal conductivity. In addition, high friction takes place between the tool and the chip. To overcome these problems during their machining process, different cooling and lubrication techniques using suitable cutting fluids are highly recommended. In this study, the cooling and lubrication techniques that have been applied in the literature to machine superalloys such as dry machining, flood cooling, high-pressure jet machining, minimum quantity lubrication and cooling, and cryogenic machining are reviewed. The technique of each type followed by its advantages and disadvantages are mentioned.