Phenomenological investigation of cutting oils: Antifriction and antiwear behaviour at low contact temperatures

Abstract

The basic reason for the use of cutting fluids in machining processes is to increase cutting tool life and to decrease machining costs. An experimental simulation of tribological processes representing rear cutting tool contact was carried out in a 'block-on-disc' (BOD) tribotester. The coefficient of friction and block wear were measured under boundary (discontinuous fluid film) and elastohydrodynamic (quasi-continuous fluid film) lubrication conditions for neat and semi-synthetic cutting oils. Interesting data were obtained concerning a further cutting fluid classification, which is helpful for optimal cutting fluid selection via their antiwear and antifriction characteristics.