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Technical Bulletins

Our technical bulletin series provides concise descriptions of metalworking issues, step-by-step guidelines to provide solutions to these issues and practical information that will help you better understand the role of metalworking fluid in your shop.

We actively solicit your input on improving our Technical Bulletins and what other subjects we should cover. If you have questions, suggestions or just want to tell us what you think, drop us a line at [email protected].

Number of documents found: 20

Background on Bacteria and Fungus in Metalworking Fluids

Are you battling with Monday morning stink and dark stains on machinery? Find a solutions by reading our tips on fighting bacterial growth and avoid having to dump the system which wastes time and money! Read our technical bulletin all about combating bacterial growth!

Characteristics of Metalworking Fluids – Alkalinity

Grasp the importance of alkalinity in metalworking by providing them with our comprehensive bulletin 'Characteristics of Metalworking Fluids - Alkalinity'. With an overview of the relationship of alkalinity to pH, and the differences between common chemistries used to raise pH, knowing more about alkalinity can help keep pH levels consistent. Read our technical bulletin all about alkalinity!

Characteristics of Metalworking Fluids – Wetting

The wetting characteristics of a fluid, that is its ability to spread, penetrate and cover a surface, can affect many aspects of the metalworking process including foaming, machine and part cleanliness, and corrosion. Recognizing wetting characteristics will give you the autonomy to make the right choices when it comes to metalworking fluids. Read our technical bulletin all about wetting!

Characteristics of Metalworking Fluids — Foam

Foam - it doesn't lubricate well, it cools poorly, it increases fluid volume, it adds to odor problems, and most importantly, it damages machine plumbing. Understanding the potential causes of foam in fluids can help you choose the right solution to their problem, whether it's fixing a mechanical problem, changing fluid choices, or knowing how and when to use antifoam. Read our technical bulletin to learn all about foam!

Concentration Control of Coolants

Every water-soluble fluid is designed to run within a specific concentration range and running below or above that range can cause an array of problems: fluids running below that range often cause corrosion, tool and sump life problems; fluids running above the range often cause dermatitis, residue, and excess fluid problems. Read our technical bulletin about the problems associated with fluid concentration and make the most out of every drop of metalworking fluid!

Concentration Control of Washing Compounds

To optimise the effectiveness of parts cleaning systems, some simple acronyms will really help you give the best advice to your customers. In this technical bulletin, we talk you through TACT (Time, Agitation, Concentration, Temperature) and the 4 Ts (Time, Temperature, Turbulence, Titration). Read our technical bulletin to learn all about parts cleaning optimisation and be ready to optimise any cleaning process today!

Control of Bacteria and Fungal Growth in Metalworking Fluids — Cleaning Individual Machine Tool Sumps

Controlling the growth of bacteria and fungi in metalworking fluids is an ongoing concern for businesses. Since bacteria and fungi live primarily in the buildup on the floor and walls of the sump, good cleaning practices are a cornerstone of machine tool sump maintenance.

Fluid Application - Flood Coolant

An effective coolant delivery system can improve tool life and surface integrity, move chips or swarf from the cutting zone effectively, and provide temporary corrosion prevention. An ineffective coolant delivery system can cause tool failure due to thermal shock. But what makes an effective coolant delivery system? Read our technical bulletin to find out!

Fluid Application - Spray Mist

Spray mist primarily serves to take heat from the process and is mostly done as an alternative to flood or high pressure coolant delivery when the machine or operation doesn't allow for the free flow and return of fluid in volume. While all spray mist equipment is quite similar in function, its set-up and maintenance are critical. Read our technical bulletin all about spray mist and its unique characteristics!

Health, Safety and Environmental Affairs – Ammonia Blush or Amine Rush

Ammonia blush is the outgassing of anhydrous ammonia from a system under pressure. It happens when a specific set of changes to the pH occurs. A similar phenomenon, amine rush, causes the release of a pungent odor similar to the ammonia odor. While neither problem is generally a health and safety issue, ammonia blush is frequently a symptom of underlying bacterial control issues. Read our technical bulletin about the conditions that produce ammonia blush and amine rush, and find out how to reduce or prevent them!

Health, Safety and Environmental Affairs – Biodegradability

Health, Safety and Environmental Affairs – Disposal of Metalworking Fluid Waste

Disposal of metalworking fluid waste is an issue that all the companies that we work with face. Whether they choose offsite disposal or on-site treatment depends on a number of factors, including cost, type and volume of waste, and local sewer department restrictions. Read our technical bulletin that gives an overview of waste disposal and treatment options in our technical bulletin!

Health, Safety and Environmental Affairs – Nitrites

Though Master Fluid Solutions and much of the metalworking fluids industry stopped using nitrides in the manufacture of their cutting and grinding fluids, it doesn't mean that getting a"positive" test for nitrides is impossible or even improbable but it does mean that some investigation is in order. Read our technical bulletin to find out how to identify the source(s) of a positive nitride reading!

Health, Safety and Environmental Affairs – Nitrites in Rust Inhibitors and Washing Compounds

The use of nitrites in combination with amines in metalworking fluids is regulated by the U.S. Federal Government and it is advised that amine containing materials should not be allowed to combine with fluids containing nitrites. Read our technical bulletin to find out more about the subject of nitrites and ensure nitrite containing fluids are never used in any situation where amines could come into contact with them!

Health, Safety and Environmental Affairs – Sources of Dermatitis

More than seventy years of making and servicing metalworking fluids has taught us to look to a relatively short list of issues when trying to pinpoint the cause of dermatitis. This list of possible causes, though not all inclusive, covers more than 95% of all cases with contact with contaminated, "used" working solution, or another non-fluid related issue being right at the top of the list. Read our technical bulletin to learn the main issues causing the majority of dermatitis cases!

Health, Safety and Environmental Affairs – The Hazard Communication Standard

Health, Safety and Environmental Affairs – The Tank Side Use of Biocides and Fungicides

When properly used, biocides and fungicides, technically called 'antimicrobial pesticides', are very safe. However, these chemicals are designed to kill living organisms, so they need to be treated with respect. Read our technical bulletin for a detailed explanation on the proper use of the biocide or fungicide from a health, safety, and environmental perspective!

Health, Safety and Environmental Affairs — Dermatitis

We do everything possible to formulate and produce fluids that do not cause dermatitis. So why then are coolants so often implicated in industrial contact dermatitis? The answer is that the fluid in use is often very different than new fresh fluid, because of either improper management or contamination, or both. Additionally, it is the part of the process that is least understood; so when no other explanation is found, the coolant often is blamed.find out more about dermatitis and its main causes!

Health, Safety and Environmental Affairs — Dermatitis Prevention and Control

Since "used metalworking fluids" are often implicated in industrial dermatitis cases, it is important to understand what can be done to protect workers from potential irritants. There are in fact some relatively easy steps that can be taken to reduce the risk of dermatitis. Read our technical bulletin to read our tips on reducing the risk of dermatitis based on our 65 years of experience working with metalworking fluids!

Tramp Oil Removal and Control

Tramp oils in a metalworking system are major contributors to metalworking fluid failure and enter the machine from a number of sources. Generally speaking, the amount of damage done to a system by the presence of tramp oil is directly proportional to how much tramp oil gets into the system, how long it stays in the system, and how tightly it is held in the system. Read our technical bulletin to learn some tools and techniques to remove tramp oil from a machine!