Investigation of Neem Seed Oil as an Altanative Metal Cutting Fluid

摘要

Oil extracted from neem seed was investigated for use as alternative cutting fluid in metal machining operation using mild steel at three different values each of cutting speeds, depth of cut and oil ratios. Physicochemical properties that relate to cutting fluid’s performance like cooling effect (temperature rise) and surface roughness were measured and compared to those of conventional cutting oil bought from the market and also with data obtained in dry metal cutting experiment with no lubricant. Results indicated that neem had flash point of 157°C, pour point of +8°C, kinematic viscosity of 8.08cSt at 100°C. Specific gravity at 14/40°C was 0.9304, sulpur content was 0.0293%, pH was 5.6 and free fatty acid (oleic acid) was 5.94%. Cooling effect was found to be comparable at different oil ratios and speeds, but dry machined surfaces produced the least cooling effect with temperature rise of up to 57.33°C at 710rpm at 0.5mm depth of cut. However, neem was found to perform slightly better than the soluble oils in most of the test results. Surface roughness for neem, soluble oil and dry machining were in the range of 0.002 μm and 1.427 μm. The least surface quality was obtained with neem oil at a speed of 250 rpm; depth of cut of 1mm at 50% oil and 50% water mixture. However all surface roughness was within the recommended standard that is the acceptable value for turned and machined surfaces with maximum value set at 25μm.