Environmentally Friendly Machining: Vegetable Based Cutting Fluids

Abstract A wide variety of cutting fluids are commercially available in the cutting fluid suppliers in order to provide machining performances for a number of industries. In machining, mineral, synthetic and semi-synthetic cutting fluids are widely used but, recently, uses of vegetable based cutting fluids have been increased. Although, these cutting fluids are beneficial in the industries, their uses are being questioned nowadays as regards to health and environmental issues. Cutting fluids are contaminated with metal particles and degradation products which diminish the effectiveness of cutting fluids. To minimize the adverse environmental effects associated with the use of cutting fluids, the hazardous components from their formulations have to be eliminated or reduced to the acceptable level. In addition, mineral based cutting fluids are going to be replaced with vegetable based cutting fluids since they are environmentally friendly. Today to diminish the negative effects associated with cutting fluids, researchers have developed new bio based cutting fluids from various vegetable oils. This chapter has also focused on environmental conscious machining such as dry cutting, machining with minimum quantity lubricant and especially machining with vegetable based cutting fluids including other types of cutting fluids. Literatures associated with types of cutting fluids have also been presented in this chapter.