Performance Testing of Cryogenic CO2 as Cutting Fluid in Parting/Grooving and Threading Austenitic Stainless Steel

Experimental investigations were carried out in which the efficiency of cryogenic CO2 was compared to that of a commercial water based product with respect to tool life, cutting forces, chip disposal and workpiece surface finish. The experimental results show that CO2 applied at a rate of about 6 g/s is an efficient coolant for threading as well as for parting/grooving stainless steel. Threading can be carried out with gas alone but the best performance was obtained adding 6 ml/min unadditivated vegetable oil to the gas. In the case of parting/grooving, addition of oil (10 ml/min) to the gas is mandatory.