A review on sustainable alternatives for conventional cutting fluid applications for improved machinability

Cutting fluid is used in the field of engineering for hundreds of years, and it plays a critical role in component processing efficiency and surface quality. Water-based cutting fluid accounts for more than 90% of cutting fluid used. Conventional cutting fluids and conventional methods of coolant application are not sustainable, economical, and environmentally friendly. Cutting fluid application in large amounts also causes health issues for the operator. Researchers have developed and implemented sustainable methods like solid lubrication, cryogenic cooling, minimum quantity lubrication (MQL), and heat pipe-assisted cooling processes in the past two decades. The introduction of environmentally friendly machining techniques has considerably improved machinability in recent years. In the presented review, adverse effects of water based cutting fluids and sustainable alternative means to cut down on heat during machining and applying coolants were studied, and their pros and cons are listed. The review focuses on identifying the best available sustainable method that is economic, environmental, and is operator-friendly.