The key difference between cutting fluid and lubricant is that cutting fluids can lubricate the interface between the cutting tool’s cutting edge and the chip, whereas lubricants can lubricate between hard materials by reducing the friction between the objects.
Cutting fluids are substances that can act as both coolants and lubricants. Lubricants are substances that are helpful in reducing the friction between two materials.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Cutting Fluid
3. What is Lubricant
4. Cutting Fluid vs Lubricant in Tabular Form
5. Summary
What is Cutting Fluid?
Cutting fluid is a type of coolant and lubricant that is helpful in metalworking processes, including machining and stamping. We can find various different cutting fluids like oils, oil-water emulsions, pastes, gels, aerosols, and air or other gases.
Typically, cutting fluid is produced from petroleum distillates, animal fat, plant oils, water and air, or some other raw ingredient. Moreover, according to the application of this substance, the name of cutting fluid can vary, including names such as cutting oil, cutting compound, coolant or lubricant.
Depending on the workpiece material, we can find cutting fluids beneficial in most metalworking and machining processes. Examples include the production of cast iron and brass, where these materials are machined dry in the presence of cutting fluid. Here, the cutting fluid can keep the object at a stable temperature (mostly at a very warm temperature), can maximize the life of the cutting tip through the lubrication of the working edge and by reducing the tip welding, it can ensure the safety upon its handling, cutting fluid also can prevent rust on machine parts and cutters, etc.
What is Lubricant?
A lubricant is a material that is helpful in reducing the friction between the surfaces upon their mutual contact. This in turn reduces the generation of heat when these surfaces move. Also, these materials are able to function for transmitting forces, transportation of foreign particles, and heating or cooling the surfaces.
Lubricants are also useful in tablet and capsule formulations as they help in reducing friction. In order words, this substance can reduce the friction between particles we use to make the tablet during compression. Furthermore, lubricants can reduce the friction between the walls of the tablet and the walls of the cavity in which we produce the tablets. A lubricant can form a coat around each granule that we use in this production. Moreover, this coat forming effect gets extended towards the tablet surface as well.
However, these lubricants show some drawbacks as well. For example, it reduces the tensile strength of the tablet by interfering with the bonding between particles of the tablet. Moreover, they extend the disintegration and dissolution time as well. This means lubricants may give waterproofing properties to the tablet. In addition to that, the concentration of this component should not exceed 1% in order to get a maximum flow rate. Some common examples of lubricants we use in pharmaceutical productions are stearic acid and calcium or magnesium salts of stearic acid.
What are the Similarities Between Cutting Fluid and Lubricant?
- Both can act as lubricating agents.
- They can reduce friction.
- Both can prevent rusting.
What is the Difference Between Cutting Fluid and Lubricant?
Cutting fluids are substances that can act as both coolants and lubricants. Lubricants are substances that are helpful in reducing the friction between two materials. The key difference between cutting fluid and lubricant is that cutting fluids can lubricate the interface between the cutting tool’s cutting edge and the chip, whereas lubricant can lubricate between hard materials by reducing the friction between the objects. Moreover, cutting fluid is used only on machinery while lubricant can be used on machinery and even on human skin.
Below is a summary of the difference between cutting fluid and lubricant in tabular form.
Summary – Cutting Fluid vs Lubricant
Cutting fluids are substances that can act as both coolants and lubricants. Lubricants are substances that are helpful in reducing the friction between two materials. The key difference between cutting fluid and lubricant is that cutting fluids can lubricate the interface between the cutting tool’s cutting edge and the chip whereas lubricant can lubricate between hard materials by reducing the friction between the objects.
Reference:
1. Baksi, Saswata, and Aayush Rao. “Cutting Fluid: Purposes, Properties, Types, Applications, & Selection [PDF].” Learn Mechanical, 9 Oct. 2020.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Makino-S33-MachiningCenter-example” By Glenn McKechnie – Photograph taken by Glenn McKechnie (CC BY-SA 2.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Gleitmittel Personal Lubricants” By Eva K. ( GFDL 1.2) via Commons Wikimedia