Method for preserving the grinding characteristics of a grinding tool

Claim 1

Method for preserving the cutting or grinding characteristics of a cutting or grinding tool while maintaining the surface of a metal workpiece at an accelerated rate of cutting or grinding comprising; effecting contact and relative motion between said workpiece and a cutting or grinding edge of a cutting or grinding tool; applying to the interface between the edge of said cutting or grinding tool and said workpiece, an effective amount of at least one compound which will undergo melting without decomposition upon exposure to the frictional heat generated at said interface during periods of such contact and relative motion, said compound being selected from the group consisting of sodium nitrite, potassium nitrite, sodium nitrate, potassium nitrate, lithium nitrite, lithium nitrate, potassium chromate, potassium dichromate and mixtures thereof; whereby, said compound, upon exposure to said frictional heat, undergoes melting and reduces the surface temperature generated at said interface by the heat absorption due to heating said compound to the melting point, the latent heat of melting of said compound and the additional heat absorption of the molten compound, while simultaneously forming a lubricating liquid film at said interaface.