A review on performance evaluation of liquid nitrogen as coolant in turning Ti-6Al-4V alloy

Abstract

During cutting operations, cutting fluids increase heat carrying capacity from the cutting area and reduce friction at the chip-tool interface. It also offers benefits like favorable chip form, enhancement in the finish of product and tool life, lower cutting forces and power consumption during any cutting operations. But the inadequate application of cutting fluids and disposal creates several technical and environmental problems. So, due to the high demand for proper cooling and lubrication, many researchers are keen on cooling using cryogenic fluids. In this, liquid nitrogen is recognized as an effective cooling agent and a better lubricant as a cutting fluid during cutting. Beneficial outcomes are reduced insert wear rate, machined surface roughness, machining forces, power consumption, enhanced tool life and favorable form of chips with liquid nitrogen cooling through controlling the temperature at heat generation zones and thereby reduced adhesion at inter surfaces. This paper reviews the various cryogenic cooling approaches using liquid nitrogen during turning Ti-6Al-4V alloy. The features of existing liquid nitrogen approaches are compared based on the machining performance, and directions for further research are recommended.

Keywords:

• Cryogenic cooling
• liquid nitrogen
• machining performance
• Ti-6Al-4V
• turning

Acknowledgment

M. Dhananchezian would like to acknowledge the Sri Sivasubramaniya Nadar College of Engineering, Kalavakkam-603110, Chennai, India, for providing support to complete the review article on LN₂ cooling during Ti-6Al-4V alloy turning.