Effect of Cryogenic Cooling on Machining Performance on Hard to Cut Metals - A Literature Review

This paper presents a literature review done on Cryogenic cooling, Liquid Nitrogen Cooling(LNC), and 'Chilled Air and Minimum Quantity Lubrication' (CAMQL) cooling methods used in machining operations, targeting to recognise better cooling methods for the Sri Lankan die and mould making sector (SLDMMS). The state of the art in cryogenic machining was searched and reviewed first, and then its benefits, limitations, and applications were studied. Alternative cooling methods for conventional emulsion cooling were searched. The benefits from cryogenic cooling and other alternative methods were analysed and compared. LNC and CAMQL cooling were chosen as subjects for further comparative study. A substantial amount of literature was found on the effect of these cooling methods on hard-to-cut materials such as lnconel, Titanium alloys etc., but very few or no studies had been carried out on materials used in the Sri Lankan die and mould making sector. A survey on materials used in SLDMMS is recommended to identify the most commonly used material types. An economic feasibility study of cryogenic cooling and chilled air cooling is recommended.