Tribology and Materials | Volume 5 | Issue 1 | 2026 | 1-11
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https://doi.org/10.46793/tribomat.2026.002
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Physical properties and tribological performance of MXene and carboxymethyl cellulose as additives in water-based cutting fluids
Joko Arianto
,
Dedison Gasni
,
Ismet Hari Mulyadi,
Devi Chandra,
Hendri Yanda
Universitas Andalas, Padang, Indonesia
Abstract: Water-based lubricants serve as an alternative to mineral oil for cutting fluids in machining processes, offering numerous benefits such as superior cooling capacity, non-toxicity, renewability and environmental sustainability. Nonetheless, water-based cutting fluids possess drawbacks, including poor viscosity, susceptibility to corrosion and inadequate thermal performance. To address the deficiencies of water-based cutting fluid, MXene and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) nanoparticles, along with sorbitan monostearate (Span 60), were used as additives, and the physical and tribological properties of the cutting fluids and the surface morphology of the counter-body were evaluated. The tribological properties were assessed using a pin-on-disc equipment, and the lubrication system employed a minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) approach with a flow rate of 480 ml/h. Experiments were conducted at disc rotations of 557 and 2886 rpm, corresponding to sliding speeds of 3.3 and 17.2 m/s, under a load of 50 N (3.9 MPa). Commercial cutting fluid diluted with water and with deionised water was utilised to compare the study's findings. The study showed that the addition of MXene, CMC and Span 60 enhanced the kinematic viscosity and thermal conductivity of water-based cutting fluid. The addition of additives to the water-based cutting fluid reduced the coefficient of friction and wear rate of the counter-body. At a lower sliding speed, the wear rate of the disc exceeded that of the pin. Conversely, at higher sliding speed, the reverse effect was noticed. The wear mechanism of the disc surface was severe abrasive wear, particularly at a lower speed of 557 rpm (3.3 m/s), whereas the wear mechanism of the pin surface was severe adhesive wear (scuffing), as evidenced by the plastic flow of the material on the tip of the pin at a higher speed of 2866 rpm (17.2 m/s).
Keywords: water-based cutting fluid, MXene, CMC, MQL, coefficient of friction, wear.
Received: 23-09-2025, Revised: 02-12-2025, Accepted: 22-12-2025
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which allows users to distribute, remix, adapt,
and build upon the material in any medium or format for non-commercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
Abstract: Water-based lubricants serve as an alternative to mineral oil for cutting fluids in machining processes, offering numerous benefits such as superior cooling capacity, non-toxicity, renewability and environmental sustainability. Nonetheless, water-based cutting fluids possess drawbacks, including poor viscosity, susceptibility to corrosion and inadequate thermal performance. To address the deficiencies of water-based cutting fluid, MXene and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) nanoparticles, along with sorbitan monostearate (Span 60), were used as additives, and the physical and tribological properties of the cutting fluids and the surface morphology of the counter-body were evaluated. The tribological properties were assessed using a pin-on-disc equipment, and the lubrication system employed a minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) approach with a flow rate of 480 ml/h. Experiments were conducted at disc rotations of 557 and 2886 rpm, corresponding to sliding speeds of 3.3 and 17.2 m/s, under a load of 50 N (3.9 MPa). Commercial cutting fluid diluted with water and with deionised water was utilised to compare the study's findings. The study showed that the addition of MXene, CMC and Span 60 enhanced the kinematic viscosity and thermal conductivity of water-based cutting fluid. The addition of additives to the water-based cutting fluid reduced the coefficient of friction and wear rate of the counter-body. At a lower sliding speed, the wear rate of the disc exceeded that of the pin. Conversely, at higher sliding speed, the reverse effect was noticed. The wear mechanism of the disc surface was severe abrasive wear, particularly at a lower speed of 557 rpm (3.3 m/s), whereas the wear mechanism of the pin surface was severe adhesive wear (scuffing), as evidenced by the plastic flow of the material on the tip of the pin at a higher speed of 2866 rpm (17.2 m/s).
Keywords: water-based cutting fluid, MXene, CMC, MQL, coefficient of friction, wear.
Received: 23-09-2025, Revised: 02-12-2025, Accepted: 22-12-2025
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which allows users to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format for non-commercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.