Nanofluids application in machining: a comprehensive review

Nanofluids are efficient heat transfer media that have been developed over the past 27 years and have been widely used in the electronic microchannel, engine, spacecraft, nuclear, and solar energy fields. With the high demand for efficient lubricants in manufacturing, the application of nanofluids in machining has become a hot topic in academia and industry. However, in the context of the huge amount of literature in the past decade, existing review cannot be used as a technical manual for industrial applications. There are many technical difficulties in establishing a mature production system, which hinder the large-scale application of nanofluids in industrial production. The physicochemical mechanism underlying the application of nanofluids in machining remains unclear. This paper is a complete review of the process, device, and mechanism, especially the unique mechanism of nanofluid minimum quantity lubrication under different processing modes. In this paper, the preparation, fluid, thermal, and tribological properties of nanofluids are reviewed. The performance of nanofluids in machining is clarified. Typically, in friction and wear tests, the coefficient of friction of jatropha oil-based alumina nanofluids is reduced by 85% compared with dry conditions. The cutting fluid based on alumina nanoparticles improves the tool life by 177–230% in hard milling. The addition of carbon nanotube nanoparticles increases the convective heat transfer coefficient of normal saline by 145.06%. Furthermore, the innovative equipment used in the supply of nanofluids is reviewed, and the atomization mechanisms under different boundary conditions are analyzed. The technical problem of parameterized controllable supply system is solved. In addition, the performance of nanofluids in turning, milling, and grinding is discussed. The mapping relationship between the nanofluid parameters and the machining performance is clarified. The flow field distribution and lubricant wetting behavior under different tool-workpiece boundaries are investigated. Finally, the application prospects of nanofluids in machining are discussed. This review includes a report on recent progress in academia and industry as well as a roadmap for future development.