Cutting fluids: Part I. Characterisation

Abstract The selection and application of cutting fluids in industry have not always been accomplished in an optimal manner. When properly applied, cutting fluids can increase productivity and reduce costs by making possible the use of higher cutting speeds, higher feed rates and greater depths of cut. Effective application of cutting fluids can also increase tool life, decrease surface roughness, increase dimensional accuracy and decrease the amount of power consumed. Part I of this paper presents an overview of the cutting fluids, their classification and composition. While Part II addresses the issues of clean machining technology, mainly recycling and disposal of cutting fluids.