When choosing metalworking fluid, you should first find out what kind of water you have. If the MWF is not compatible with the water used, problems like foam can arise.
The quality of the water is very important in view of the fact that water constitutes over 90% of the metalworking fluid. Urban water is often first-rate, with a uniform quality, nevertheless, problems can arise.
Salt
Over time, the salts that are present in the water, for example, chlorides and lime, can cause rust and deposits in the system. Even though the water evaporates, the salts remain and are thus concentrated in the system.
Rule of thumb: Never have > 100 ppm chlorides in the metalworking fluid!
A de-ionizing plant can be a good investment if you have major problems with salts. It is used for top-up.
Hardness
The water's properties affect the choice of metalworking fluid. If the metalworking fluid is not compatible with the water that is used, it can result in, for example, formation of foam in the metalworking fluid.
One of these properties is the water's hardness, which varies depending on where in the world the production is located. For example, the water is soft in Sweden while it is hard in Germany.
(JÖ)
Read more about process fluids in our e-book.
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