Potential use of transesterified vegetable oil blends as base stocks for metalworking fluids and cutting forces prediction using machine learning tool

The majority of lubricants used around the world are mineral oil-based, which causes environmental and health risks. The industry is under pressure to develop eco-friendly and biodegradable lubricants due to poor degradability and the depletion of mineral oil resources. Vegetable oils (VO) are being considered as an alternative source of lubricants due to their biodegradability, renewability, low toxicity, and good lubricating characteristics. The VO also suffers few drawbacks such as limited oxidation stability and poor low-temperature performance. Blending, chemical modification, and additives can improve the oil’s lubricating properties. The objective of the study is to formulate bio-lubricants from vegetable oils such as rice bran oil (RBO), jatropha oil (JO), and a blend of RBO and JO. Transesterification was performed on the vegetable oils, and all samples were assessed for tribological characteristics, oxidative stability, corrosion, and emulsion stability using ASTM and international standards. A lathe machine with a tool dynamometer was used to test the performance of the formulated cutting fluid. Cutting forces were assessed and compared to those of a commercial cutting fluid. Machine learning algorithms were also used to forecast cutting forces, which were then compared to experimental values. The 1:1 ratio of transesterified RBO and JO has shown a better coefficient of friction and superior oxidative stability. Also, the 40% emulsifier in the oil has shown good stability. The cutting forces were found to be lower for wet machining when compared with dry machining and vegetable oil-based cutting fluid has shown similar performance to that of commercial cutting fluid.