Full text loading...
- ISSN: 2212-7976
- E-ISSN: 1874-477X
-
Effects of Sol-gel Processed Al2O3 as a Lubricant on Machining Parameters of Al-6063
- Source: Recent Patents on Mechanical Engineering, Volume 18, Issue 2, Apr 2025, p. 201 - 212
-
- 15 Feb 2024
- 04 Apr 2024
- 23 May 2024
Abstract
Background
The material removal process is always impacted by frequent interruptions caused by changing tools and cutting conditions that increase production times and also affect the surface roughness of the workpiece.
Existing Methods
Adding cutting fluid to the cutting zone region is one of the most advantageous techniques for dealing with heat transfer and temperature distribution problems in machining. The techniques used to apply cutting fluids are pools and minimal lubrication techniques. Although these technologies work effectively, their processing in the processing area is also a difficult task for the user.
Proposed Methods
To overcome this difficulty, a layer deposition method known as the sol–gel process can be employed. It is a technique that involves a solution that is transformed into a gel and then deposited on a metal surface to be machined.
In the present work, initially, a gel was prepared using Al2O3 as a precursor and water as a base fluid, and glycerol was selected as a surfactant. Using a magnetic stirrer, the mixture solution was stirred and then dried under natural sunlight for 3 days for gel formation. With the aid of a UV visible spectrometer, the formation of sol-gel was confirmed. Al6063 was utilized as a machining material for the lathe turning process, and the gel created was deposited on the surface.
Results
Machining was carried out under both dry and gel-applied conditions to examine the gel's effectiveness. Input parameters considered were spindle speed, feed, and depth of cut. Three factors at three levels were chosen for the experimentation. Temperature and cutting forces were the output parameters that were measured. ANOVA analysis was carried out to find out the influence of input parameters and to predict the corresponding best input parameters for low temperature and low cutting forces during machining under sol-gel conditions.
Conclusion
High speed, medium feed and medium depth of the cut show lower values of forces in tangential and radial as well as lower temperatures in the case of sol-gel conditions compared to dry machining. This research could serve as a foundation for future developments in machining technologies and patent innovations involving sol-gel applications.
©
2025 Bentham Science Publishers