Experimental Evaluation of the Lubrication Performance in MQL Grinding of Nano SiC Reinforced Al Matrix Composites

Metal matrix composites (MMCs) are materials which have been extensively used in the aerospace and automobile industries and have been categorized as hard-to-machine materials.Lubricants participate a significant role in machining, particularly in the grinding process. As a effect of the rising require for environmental safety and the growing number of health problems faced by workers, traditional lubricants are gradually being replaced. This research evaluate the performance of MQL grinding of nano SiC reinforced Al matrix composites using SAE20W40, Cashew nut shell oil and nano Tio2 filled Cashew nut shell oil as base oils. Experiments for grindability study were approved on a horizontal spindle cylindrical grinding machine using Response Surface Methodology. In this research, the influences of n grinding parameters including wheel speed, work piece speed, depth of cut and wt% nano SiC have been considered on the basis of the grinding forces and temperature to develop optimum grinding narration such as lubrication, high biological and ecological safety. The result shows that the application of nano fluid leads to the reduction of tangential forces and grinding zone temperature. Surface integrity of machined surface were studied using Scanning electron microscopy (SEM).