Research Projects

Carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites are gaining popularity in the aeronautics sector due to their high strength-to-weight and stiffness-to-weight ratios. Because of the hydrothermal ageing of CFRP in a flooded lubricating environment, dry machining has become widely used. However, the extreme conditions of dry machining result in a wide range of surface defects, and the dust is hazardous to people and the planet. Besides, the urgent need for a sustainable lubrication system is essential in this modern manufacturing era. Therefore, a hybrid lubri-cooling environment is proposed by combining the idea of nano-enhanced minimum quantity lubrication and cryogenic lubrication for milling of CFRP composites. Where the experiments will be organized by simultaneous application of the Nano reinforced algal oil (NAO) and cryogenic liquid nitrogen (LN2) from two different nozzles at the machining region for a better lubri-cooling effect. Afterward, the ecological (energy consumption, and carbon emission), economic (machining cost and productivity), and technological (Cutting forces, surface roughness, tool wear, cutting temperature, burr width, and micro-hardness) aspects of the proposed lubricating environment (NAO+LN2) will be analysed and comprehensively compared with dry, NAO, and LN2 environments. Finally, Multi-criteria decision-making methods (MCDM) will be adopted to calculate the overall sustainability index under specified lubri-cooling conditions.