Vegetable Oil-Based Nanolubricants in Machining: From Physicochemical Properties to Application

Cutting fluid is crucial in ensuring surface quality and machining accuracy during machining. However, traditional mineral oil-based cutting fluids no longer meet modern machining’s health and environmental protection requirements. As a renewable, pollution-free alternative with excellent processing characteristics, vegetable oil has become an inevitable replacement. However, vegetable oil lacks oxidation stability, extreme pressure, and antiwear properties, which are essential for machining requirements. The physicochemical characteristics of vegetable oils and the improved methods’ application mechanism are not fully understood. This study aims to investigate the effects of viscosity, surface tension, and molecular structure of vegetable oil on cooling and lubricating properties. The mechanisms of autoxidation and high-temperature oxidation based on the molecular structure of vegetable oil are also discussed. The study further investigates the application mechanism and performance of chemical modification and antioxidant additives. The study shows that the propionic ester of methyl hydroxy-oleate obtained by epoxidation has an initial oxidation temperature of 175 ℃. The application mechanism and extreme pressure performance of conventional extreme pressure additives and nanoparticle additives were also investigated to solve the problem of insufficient oxidation resistance and extreme pressure performance of nanobiological lubricants. Finally, the study discusses the future prospects of vegetable oil for chemical modification and nanoparticle addition. The study provides theoretical guidance and technical support for the industrial application and scientific research of vegetable oil in the field of lubrication and cooling. It is expected to promote sustainable development in the manufacturing industry.