Water plays a significant role on the performance of a metalworking fluid. Water acts as the carrier of the metalworking fluid mix (coolant) and makes up between 85% – 95% of the coolant and thus the cleanliness of the water if very important.
Water can contain many different contaminants and these and their effects are summarized below:
1. Chlorides (Cl–)
The presence of chlorides needs to be kept to a minimum. Chlorides cause corrosion on ferrous materials.
2. Calcium and Magnesium (Ca2+ & Mg2+)
Calcium and Magnesium are two determining factors in the Total Hardness of the water. Calcium and Magnesium attack the emulsifier package of the coolant and causes soaping to occur which leads to product instability.
3. Bacteria
Water contains bacteria. This bacteria digests mineral oil in the coolant (particularly tramp oil that floats on the surface of the coolant) and produces an acidic excretion that causes the pH to drop in value and promote corrosion.
4. Fungi
Fungi are found in water and can negatively affect the coolant and machines which the coolant are used in. Fungi form a biomass within the machine and release fungal spores into the fluid. These spores adhere to surfaces and form new biomasses. If this process is not controlled the fungi can block pipes, filters and tools resulting in downtime, loss of production and loss of revenue.
All the contaminants above are introduced into the coolant every time the metalworking fluid mix is made, and thus, good quality water is vital to guarantee extended fluid life. In addition to good quality water, the coolant needs to be consistently monitored to maintain the coolant specification.
That is where we come in, here at CSI solutions, we provide chemical management services which consists of a multi-tier approach to strategically optimize customer operations.
For more information, get in touch with us today.
