Lubrication Mechanisms of a Nanocutting Fluid with Carbon Nanotubes and Sulfurized Isobutylene (CNTs@T321) Composites as Additives

Developing high-efficiency lubricant additives and high-performance green cutting fluids has universal significance for maximizing processing efficiency, lowering manufacturing cost, and more importantly reducing environmental concerns caused by the use of conventional mineral oil-based cutting fluids. In this study, a nanocomposite is synthesized by filling sulfurized isobutylene (T321) into acid-treated carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with a liquid-phase wet chemical method. The milling performance of a nanocutting fluid containing CNTs@T321 composites is assessed using a micro-lubrication technology in terms of cutting temperature, cutting force, tool wear, and surface roughness. The composite nanofluid performs better than an individual CNT nanofluid regarding milling performance, with 12%, 20%, and 15% reductions in the cutting force, machining temperature, and surface roughness, respectively. The addition of CNTs@T321 nanocomposites improves the thermal conductivity and wetting performance of the nanofluid, as well as produces a complex lubricating film by releasing T321 during machining. The synergistic effect improves the cutting state at the tool–chip interface, thereby resulting in improved machining performance.