Environmental Aspects of Grinding Fluids

Abstract

Summary Internationally, environmental concerns, public opinion, and government regulation have initiated extensive controls on the use and disposal of industrial products including grinding fluids. As a result, waste disposal costs have increased as has manufacturer liability for the effect of wastes upon the environment and for the impact of manufacturing processes upon worker health. In the case of grinding fluids, these trends have resulted in an emphasis on fluid maintenance in order to minimize the amount of waste generated, to extend the life of the fluid, and to mitigate negative effects on worker health. The concept of fluid management encompasses fluid selection, maintenance of fluid concentration and emulsion stability, control of microbial levels, and removal of impurities. Upon failure, used fluids must be treated either to reduce toxicity or to render them suitable for recycling. Although techniques and equipment have been developed for fluid maintenance and waste disposal, more research is warranted accurately to determine the extent and forms of the impact of grinding fluids on the environment, given that government regulation shall become increasingly stringent and that the impact upon manufacturing processes promises to be far reaching.