Comparative Study of Lubricity of Mixed Coconut/Diesel Oil and Neem Seed Oil in Cold Rolling of Aluminum Alloy

Abstract

Performance of mixed coconut/diesel oil (factory rolling oil) and neem seed oil as lubricants for friction reduction in cold rolling of 8011 commercial aluminum alloy has been investigated using plane strain compression test. The proportions of mixture of coconut oil and diesel as lubricant to ascertain the ratio which gives the highest percentage reduction in thickness was also investigated. A total of ten plates, each of dimension 240mm x 40mm x 7mm, were compressed with five different loads ranging from 80kN to 120kN. Mixed coconut/diesel oil served as lubricant in cold compression of the first five plates while neem seed oil was used for the remaining five plates. Locally sourced coconut oil and diesel were mixed in five different proportions and each of the oil mixture was used as lubricant in compressing aluminum alloy of dimensions 140mm x 40mm x 4.9mm at 100kN load. The results showed that at the lowest reduction load of 80kN, the reduction in thickness of 6.15% and 4.14% were respectively obtained under neem seed oil and coconut/diesel oil lubricants while 48.47% and 34.57% respectively were obtained at the highest load of 120kN. These results showed that neem seed oil performed better than mixed coconut/diesel oil at any specific load and the difference in performance was more pronounced at higher loads. The mixture of locally sourced coconut oil and diesel in various proportions performed best as friction reducer at 70% diesel and 30% coconut oil.