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Review on the progress of minimum quantity lubrication in the machining of steel
Journal article   Open access

Review on the progress of minimum quantity lubrication in the machining of steel

Willey Yun Hsien Liew, Norlaila Ahmad, Gan Jet Hong Melvin, Wan Sieng Yeo, Bih Lii Chua, Ahmad Nurfaidhi Rizalman and Zhong-Tao Jiang
Discover applied sciences, Vol.8(8), 905
2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-026-08821-9
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Open Access CC BY-NC-ND V4.0

Abstract

Multidisciplinary Sciences Science & Technology Science & Technology - Other Topics
The production of machined steel has increased over the years due to the high demand from manufacturing sectors which now include the growing needs of industry 4.0. The main challenge encountered in the machining of steel is the rapid deterioration of cutting tools at high cutting speeds due to the high temperatures generated. Conventional lubrication uses large volumes of cutting fluid to dissipate heat energy, which has an adverse impact on the environment and on worker's health. An alternative lubrication method intended to replace conventional techniques is minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) whereby a minimal amount of lubricant is sprayed directly into the cutting zone. Previous review papers have provided an overview of the machining of various alloys under MQL, making it difficult to determine the specific research gaps for the machining of steel under MQL. This review paper provides a comprehensive overview of both the current performance and limitations of MQL in the machining of steel, and of various workable approaches used to improve its performance. Numerous experimental studies have shown that the performance of MQL can be improved by (1) enhancing its cooling ability by spraying the MQL fluid together with cryogenic gases or liquids, (2) introducing additives into the MQL fluids in order to form durable anti-wear tribo-films, and (3) adding nanoparticles, such as graphene, TiO2, Al2O3, and MoS2, to enhance both the lubricity and cooling ability of the MQL fluids. Also presented is electrostatic MQL, which, by negatively charging the fine oil mist, can achieve improved wetting and deposition rate of the lubricant droplets onto the machined surfaces. Finally, this paper proposes further studies on the effectiveness of mixtures containing water, oil, and nanoparticles/cryogenic gases as MQL fluid, and also on the effects of tool substrate and coating on the performance of MQL in the machining of steel.

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