Research Article

Vegetable-oil based metalworking fluids research developments for machining processes: survey, applications and challenges

¹ Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering and Engineering Technology, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria
² Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya, Malaysia

^* e-mail: lawalbert2003@yahoo.com

Received: 29 September 2014
Accepted: 11 December 2014

Abstract

Research developments in the application of vegetable-oil based metalworking fluids (MWFs) in machining processes have witnessed a great attention in recent years, this being due to the environmental friendliness and performances recorded while machining. In the work reported in this paper, the authors surveyed relevant literatures, identified gaps in the application of vegetable-oil based MWFs, and proposed challenges and needs to fill the gaps created as a result of new development in engineering material applications. The engineering materials for the machining processes addressed were classified into three categories: ferrous materials, non-ferrous materials and super alloys materials. This survey is both timeline and process defined. It identified gaps in the research developments at various periods of time with respect to applications to various processes. It concluded by making a case for application of vegetable-oil based MWFs for milling and grinding processes and super alloy materials as a way of addressing environmental impact that is always associated with application of mineral-oil based MWFs.