DEVELOPMENT OF CUTTING FLUID FROM YELLOW OLEANDER (THEVETIA PRUVENSSIA) SEEDS OIL
Publication Date : 01/08/2013
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Abstract :
A cutting fluid was developed from Thevetia Pruvenssia Seeds Fluid (TPSF). The physiochemical and mechanical characteristics of the fluid were evaluated. The performance of the developed cutting fluid was evaluated by comparison with a conventional cutting fluid, castor oil, in machining operation on a lathe machine. It was found that both samples have similar cooling properties except at 140 rpm and 180 rpm when the performance of castor oil was slightly better. The viscosity of TPSF measured at 40oC is 29.50 cSt which was lower than that of castor oil by 13.7%, while at 100oC the viscosity is higher than that of castor oil by 17%. The pH of the TPSF fluid was found to be 7.71 compared to that of soluble oil with pH of 10.3 which is an advantage because TPSF is less corrosive. Maximum of three spots were observed in the corrosion test. This shows that the corrosion level of TPSF is very low. The presence of unsaturated acid (oleic acid), which enhances lubricity, was found to be 50.49% constituting the major component of the acid in the fluid. TPSF has free fatty acid content of 5.64% compared with zero content for castor oil which makes it more stable than the castor oil. Hence TPSF can be stored for a long period of time without degradation. The flashpoint of TPSF (98oC) shows that it is of very low hazard to the operator and the environment, however, the pour point of TPSF (-1oC) is high compared with -43oC for castor oil, which makes TPSF only suitable for tropical countries like Nigeria. TPSF chlorine content of 0.16wt% gives it an antiseptic property which increases the emulsion life of the base oil. However, viscosity index of 15.33 is much lower than that of castor oil of 51. It is, therefore, recommended that a viscosity improver should be used to raise the viscosity of TPSF for use as cutting fluid.
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