Industrial lubricants and functional fluids - Metalworking fluids
Modern lubricants are highly specialized and complex products. They contain mainly base oils (most often these are petroleum fractions, poly-alpha-olefins, esters, polyalkylene glycols or silicones) and a number of additives that reduce friction, increase viscosity, improve lubricating properties or increase corrosion resistance.
Industrial lubricants and functional fluids - Metalworking fluids
Modern lubricants are highly specialized and complex products. They contain mainly base oils (most often these are petroleum fractions, poly-alpha-olefins, esters, polyalkylene glycols or silicones) and a number of additives that reduce friction, increase viscosity, improve lubricating properties or increase corrosion resistance.
Metalworking involves technological processes that change the shape, dimensions, as well as physical and chemical properties of metal.
In terms of the procedures applied, there are four types of metalworking:
Chemical treatment – involves reaction of metal with chemicals in order to alter its properties, such as strength.
Heat treatment – here metal is exposed to high temperatures. This procedure may be used for stabilising, hardening or balancing the metal object.
Plastic treatment – metal is subject to forces causing its permanent deformation. This process changes the metal structure, its smoothness and mechanical properties. Examples of plastic treatment include bending, forging, rolling and pressing, which may be performed in hot, semi-hot or cold conditions.
Mechanical treatment – also called machining, in which metal is subject to grinding, milling or turning. This method is used for obtaining desired shape and dimensions of a metal product.
Chemicals used in metalworking have several functions. Depending on target requirements, they are used for degreasing metal productsbefore further processes, passivation or phosphating. These substances are used mainly by the metallurgical industry and the industry of lubricants and process fluids.