The concept of "Green Tribology" and "Green Manufacturing" has recently been coined as the research and study of the impact of modern manufacturing operations on the environment at large. Minimum Quantity Lubrication or MQL, is a valuable tool to lower the carbon footprint and to apply bio-renewable lubricants whilst creating a win-win scenario, both for the industrialist's bottom line and the production environment. MQL is widely applied in the South African aluminium and yellow metal value chains. A case study of a sawing operation of cast ingot in an aluminium slab-casting machine will quantify cost savings and the impact on the environment. MQL is limited to lighter steel and stainless metalworking operations because of unwanted heat build up. Recent trials with steel turning have shown that concurrent dosing of small quantities of lubricant and coolant can produce a feasible operation whilst eliminating the negative consequences of using flood cooling. A test programme comparing flood cooling vs MQL in milling of stainless steel, showed that MQL application can be a feasible alternative to conventional wet milling.
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