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    Using Dry Ice As A Coolant For Cutting Tools - Tech Briefs

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    Using Dry Ice As A Coolant For Cutting Tools - Tech Briefs

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    sudhagar s
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    Using Dry Ice as a Coolant for Cutting Tools - Tech Briefs

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    Using Dry Ice As A Coolant For Cutting Tools - Tech Briefs

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    sudhagar s

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    7/1/2021 Using Dry Ice as a Coolant for Cutting Tools - Tech Briefs

    JULY 1, 2002
    | MATERIALS [/TB/TOPIC/MATERIALS-MANUFACTURING/MATERIALS-COATINGS]

    Using Dry Ice as a Coolant for Cutting Tools


    Unlike conventional liquid coolants, dry ice would not introduce contamination.
    Johnson Space Center

    Particles of dry ice (frozen carbon dioxide) entrained in gas flows would be used during machining
    to cool cutting tools and workpieces, according to a proposal. Solid carbon dioxide particles that
    impinge on a tool and workpiece would absorb heat generated in the cutting process. The
    absorbed heat would cause the particles to vaporize. The consequent outflow of cold carbon
    dioxide gas would remove cutting debris and would provide additional cooling.

    A Slightly Modified Atomizer would generate a spray of particles of dry ice entrained in a flow of transport gas. The spray
    would be used to cool a cutting tool and workpiece.

    The cooling capacities of the liquid coolants used customarily in machining are marginal. Most
    such liquids are at least mildly hazardous and at least mildly corrosive or otherwise harmful to
    cutting machines, and they contaminate workpieces, making it necessary to clean workpieces after
    machining. Moreover, it is expensive to separate coolant liquids from machining debris for
    environmentally sound disposal.

    In contrast, carbon dioxide is already present in the atmosphere and would not introduce any
    contamination. In addition, the vaporization of carbon dioxide is expected to remove heat more
    effectively, thereby extending the useful lives of cutting tools, increasing the accuracy of cutting,
    reducing and/or preventing damage to heat-sensitive materials to be cut, and/or making it
    possible to cut at higher speeds without degrading the cutting tools and/or the materials to be cut.
    Yet another advantage is that out-flowing carbon dioxide could help to prevent burning of
    workpiece materials (e.g., magnesium and titanium) that are susceptible to combustion when cut
    in air.

    An apparatus for cooling by the proposed method could be constructed by (1) modifying an
    atomizer to handle particles of dry ice instead of a liquid and (2) adding insulation to limit the
    sublimation of the dry ice during storage and transit to the point of application. Referring to the
    figure, a supply of transport gas (e.g., air, carbon dioxide, or nitrogen) would be introduced at the
    https://www.techbriefs.com/component/content/article/tb/pub/techbriefs/materials/6745 1/2
    7/1/2021 Using Dry Ice as a Coolant for Cutting Tools - Tech Briefs

    inlet at sufficient pressure to provide adequate flow through the pressure regulator. Downstream
    from the regulator, the gas would flow through the flow-control valve, then would be throttled by
    the restriction before entering the delivery tube.

    The hopper above the delivery tube would contain the supply of dry ice. The delivery-control valve
    would adjustably throttle the flow of particles of dry ice into the delivery tube. The particles would
    become entrained in the flow of transport gas, and the resulting mixture of transport gas and dry-
    ice particles would flow to the discharge port, which would be positioned to deliver the flow to the
    cutting tool and the workpiece.

    This work was done by Thomas A. Hall and Thomas O. Hall of Johnson Space Center. For
    further information, contact the Johnson Commercial Technology Office at 281- 483-3809;
    [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]

    NASA Tech Briefs Magazine


    This article first appeared in the July, 2002 issue of NASA Tech Briefs Magazine.

    Read more articles from the archives here [/tb/magazine/archives] .

    [https://tbm.dragonforms.com/loading.do?omedasite=TEBland]

    © 2009-2021 Tech Briefs Media Group

    https://www.techbriefs.com/component/content/article/tb/pub/techbriefs/materials/6745 2/2

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