Physics-Based Study of Graphene Colloidal Systems as Metal Working Fluids for Micro-Machining Applications

该奖项的研究目标是测试四个关键石墨烯片晶设计因素的假设，即（1）片晶形状和尺寸;（2）片晶内石墨烯层的数量;（3）石墨烯和分散介质之间的界面表面化学;以及（4）石墨烯浓度，所有这些都影响石墨烯增强金属加工液的润滑和冷却效率。这一目标将通过四项主要研究任务来实现，即（1）工程石墨烯片晶的制造及其胶体分散体的性质表征;（2）微车削实验，以研究石墨烯片晶设计因素对金属加工液性能的影响;（3）表征载有石墨烯的微液滴的冲击动力学和蒸发;（4）微车削实验，以研究石墨烯片晶设计因素对金属加工液性能的影响。以及（4）将石墨烯片晶设计用于环境友好的基于藻类油的切削液中。如果成功，这项研究将导致美国制造业使用的各种金属加工液的润滑和冷却性能的改善。这是一个数十亿美元的市场，影响着国防、航空航天、医疗保健和消费电子等关键领域的产品成本。它还将通过提供设计用于高性能环保切削液的石墨烯基添加剂所需的知识来推进可持续制造倡议。作为这项研究的一部分而开展的推广活动将鼓励纽约州的高中生以及新墨西哥州的纳瓦霍少数民族学生在科学和工程领域接受高等教育。

The research objective of this award is to test the hypothesis that the four key graphene platelet design factors, namely, (1) platelet shape and size; (2) number of graphene layers within a platelet; (3) interfacial surface chemistry between graphene and the dispersion medium; and (4) graphene concentration, all influence the lubrication and cooling efficiency of graphene-enhanced metal working fluids. This objective will be achieved by four major research tasks, namely, (1) manufacture of engineered graphene platelets and property characterization of their colloidal dispersions; (2) micro-turning experiments to study the effect of graphene platelet design factors on the performance of the metal working fluid; (3) characterization of the impact dynamics and evaporation of the graphene-laden micro-droplets; and (4) engineering the graphene platelets for use in environmentally benign algae oil-based cutting fluids.If successful, this research will result in the improvement of the lubrication and cooling performance of a wide variety of metal working fluids used by the manufacturing industry in the United States. This is a multi-billion dollar market that affects the cost of products used in key areas including defense, aerospace, health care and consumer electronics. It will also advance sustainable manufacturing initatives by providing the knowledge needed to design graphene-based additives for use in high-performance environmentally-benign cutting fluids. The outreach activities pursued as part of this research will encourage both the New York state high school students as well as the Navajo minority students in New Mexico, to pursue higher education in the fields of science and engineering.