Treating Bacteria and Fungus in Metalworking Fluids
Bacteria and fungus are two major causes of metalworking fluid failure; they impair the effectiveness of the cutting fluid and are harmful to operators. Treatment and prevention is not difficult but it does require consistent maintenance.
Some cutting fluids are more susceptible to microbial problems than others. Water-Soluble Oils typically have the most problems simply because they have the highest oil content of all the different types of cutting fluid. Also as formulas advance and sump life increases the chances for product loss also increases. Even if you don’t currently have problems with bacteria or fungus, if the sump life of your coolant is four months or more it is a good idea to get into the habit of dosing your sump with a bactericide once a month.
Preventative Dosing:
For prevention a good rule of thumb is dosing in the morning on the first Friday of the month.
Treatment Dosing:
If you already have a problem with bacteria and/or fungus use the following dosing schedule to first eliminate your problem. Once the problem is under control continue preventative dosing.
Problems with bacteria only: Use 1 oz of Grotan† for every 5 gallons of cutting fluid (take the capacity of your sump in gallons and divide by 5 to get your dose in ounces). For other bactericides see manufacturer’s guidelines.
Problems with bacteria and fungus: Use 1 oz of Triadine 20† for every 5 gallons of cutting fluid (take the capacity of your sump in gallons and divide by 5 to get your dose in ounces). For other bactericides/fungicides see manufacturer’s guidelines.
30 gallon sump = 6 oz of Grotan/Triadine 20
50 gallon sump = 10 oz of Grotan/Triadine 20
100 gallon sump = 20 oz of Grotan/Triadine 20
Dosing schedule:
Always use full doses.
*Use additional doses for major contamination problems.
† These Rustlick products are available through MSC Industrial Supply, Grainger, and DGI Supply along with a wide number of regional distributors. For more information on where you can find these products contact info@rocolnorthameria.com.
You are visiting the blog of ITW ROCOL North America, manufacturer of Accu-Lube, Rustlick, SafeTap, and Daraclean. For more information please visit their website at www.rocolnorthamerica.com.Tags: bacteria problems, bacteria treatment, coolant, fungus problems, fungus treatment, Grotan, lubricants, metalworking fluids, Triadine 20
You can comment below, or link to this permanent URL from your own site.