Characterization of Machinability and Environmental Impact of Cryogenic Turning of Ti-6Al-4V

Titanium alloys are widely used in aerospace applications due to their physical and mechanical properties. However, their poor machinability remains the main challenge to improve the productivity and the surface quality. Cryogenic machining recently gained interest as a clean and economical cooling technique. It becomes a promising candidate for applications that involve aggressive metal removal, especially for hard-to-cut material. This research provides insight into the cryogenic machining performance compared to flood machining in terms of its effect on tool life, surface quality, cutting forces and environmental impact. For such analysis, turning tests of Ti-6Al-4V using cryogenic and flood technologies were conducted at different cutting conditions. Life cycle analysis was conducted using the Eco-indicator method to compare the environmental impact of each technology. The cryogenic technology significantly improved the process environmental performance in addition to enhancing the tool life and surface quality compared to flood, hence improved the process productivity.