Industry Primer | Products | Calculations | Test Program Setup | Additional Resources
For a quick introduction of LuminUltra's capabilities in this market, go here.
Background
The requirement of metalworking fluids in the machining industry is twofold: for lubrication and to conduct heat away from the cutting surface. While they are necessary to provide lubrication in metal machining, metalworking fluids can serve as a breeding ground for microorganisms. Warm temperatures, adequate biodegradable food, and a sufficiently high water content provide ideal conditions for rapid microbial proliferation if it is not adequately monitored and controlled. The end result of uncontrolled microbial growth in metalworking fluids is microbially-induced corrosion (MIC) and subsequently premature equipment failure.
Besides product issues, microbial growth in metalworking fluids also has significant health implications. Skin rashes and breathing conditions are commonly a result of contact with contaminated fluid, but more serious health issues can result under more extreme biodegradation conditions.
Additional Information:
- Cutting Fluid: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cutting_fluid
- Official Site – Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers: http://www.stle.org
- Machine and Tool Blue Book – Controlling Coolant Contamination: http://www.biodeterioration-control.com/CtrlCoolantContam-MandTBB-10860001.PDF
- Controlling Microbial Contamination in Metalworking Fluids: http://www.biodeterioration-control.com/Micro%20Contam%20-%20SMEMF92-127.PDF
- Metalworking Fluid Microbes - What We Need to Know to Successfully Understand Cause-and-Effect Relationships: http://www.biodeterioration-control.com/Microbes%20in%20MWF%20What%20We%20Need%20to%20Know%20Triobol.%20Trans.%2051%20107-117%202008.pdf
The QGO-M test kit is fully compliant with ASTM Standard E2694 for the measurement of ATP in Metalworking Fluids. The full standard can be obtained here: http://www.astm.org/Standards/E2694.htm.
How can ATP monitoring help?
Use of QGO-M provides metalworking fluid managers with the ability to:
- Optimize operating parameters and in doing so reduce operating costs.
- Improve maintenance programs to manage health risks associated with microorganisms.
- Validate alternative microbial control initiatives in real time.
- Identify, correct and validate anti-microbial initiatives during the same shift!
QGO-M provides the first line of defence in metalworking fluid management programs. The results obtained are an invaluable component of continuous improvement programs to decrease costs and reduce risk!
Testing Landscape
Complimentary Methods
- Most Probable Number (MPN) Analyses – culture-based method used to enumerate total microbial population, but incubation times are excessive (7-28 days). While this method can be very sensitive, the incubation time is not at all conducive to preventative action in the event of a contaminated sample.
- Specific Cultures – plate methods such as counts, bug bottles, and dip slides all provide information about specific organisms. By using these methods together with ATP analyses, one can therefore achieve a much more complete picture of microbiological activity since the total population as well as key indicator organisms can be monitored.
- Gross Observation – Visual inspection and performance data can provide an indication of fluid quality.
