Improvement on the Surface Quality in Machining of Aluminum Alloy Involving Boron Nitride Nanoparticles

Aluminum Alloys are used in a variety of applications due to their lightweight, strength-to-weight ratio and relatively ease of fabrication. In aerospace industry, millions of holes drilled annually on airframe structures. Normally, cutting fluids have been used to help reduce friction and heat. However, the use of cutting fluid is one of the major concerns when considering the environmental issues in machining. The disposal of used cutting fluid poses problems to the environment. This research investigates the effect of greener technique; hexagonal Boron Nitride nanoparticles dispersed in oil as compared to dry cutting and oil alone in through hole drilling operation Their impact on tool wear, surface roughness, and holes quality in terms of diameter accuracy, circularity and cylindricity were experimentally studied. Results showed that application of hexagonal Boron Nitride improved surface finish and produced better dimensional hole accuracy. The work clearly shows the important of nanoparticles in improving machinability of this material.