How to Use and Maintain Metalworking Fluids

The Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers (www.stle.org) has a white paper that points out the key operating steps needed to determine if a metalworking fluid has gone beyond its effective operating life.

“Development of Guidelines for Using and Maintaining Metalworking Fluids” was written with contributions from representatives of metalworking fluid users, manufacturers and industry consultants who talked about the effective operating life of coolants, the key failure modes that shorten metalworking fluid life and the operating steps that are needed to maintain metalworking fluids and extend their lives. Emphasis is on metal-removal fluids.

The white paper is divided into seven sections:

• Types of metalworking fluids.
• Parameters that must be considered in recommending a metalworking fluid for a specific application.
• Failure modes that reduce the operating life of metalworking fluids.
• Operating steps to maintain metalworking fluids.
• Criteria that can be quantified to improve estimates for the operating life of metalworking fluids.
• Operating steps that should be taken to determine if a metalworking fluid has gone beyond its operating life.
• And, Summary.

The white paper is recommended for those preparing for Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers’ Certified Metalworking Fluids Specialist certification examination and is available at no charge from the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers website.