Minimum Quantity Lubrication-An emerging technology for sustainable development

The machining of metals has traditionally involved the use of large quantities of water and oils for dissipating the cutting tool temperature, improving the surface finish of parts and increasing tool life. Invariably, the cutting fluid has become contaminated with use, has required being environmentally disposed and has accounted for approximately 17% of the total production cost of parts. The purpose of this article is to review the relevant literature in machining using minimum quantity lubrication particularly as it pertains to environmental and health issues and outline future potential research in this technology. The findings of this study show that MQL may be an economical and environmentally compatible lubrication technique.