Are metalworking fluid preservatives effective in preventing the growth of bacteria, fungi or other microorganisms?

One of the main functions of metalworking fluid preservatives is to inhibit the growth of microorganisms, especially bacteria, fungi and other harmful microorganisms. The reproduction of microorganisms not only affects the quality of the processing fluid, but also poses a certain threat to the processing process, equipment and workers' health. During long-term use, if the processing fluid fails to effectively inhibit the growth of microorganisms, it will cause the processing fluid to corrupt, produce odors, and even contaminate the surface of the workpiece, affecting the quality of the final product.
Metalworking fluid preservatives usually prevent the growth of microorganisms in several ways. First, many preservatives contain antibacterial ingredients that can directly kill or inhibit the growth of microorganisms. Common antibacterial ingredients include alcohols, acids, salts, and certain metal ions. These ingredients can effectively neutralize the living environment of microorganisms and reduce the activity of microorganisms. Secondly, some preservatives also have antifungal properties, which can prevent the formation of mold and mildew, which is particularly important for processing fluids that are used for a long time.
In the process of controlling the growth of microorganisms, metalworking fluid preservatives must also take into account not to have a negative impact on other characteristics of the processing fluid. For example, some preservatives may change the viscosity, surface tension or lubricity of the machining fluid, so when selecting a preservative, it is necessary to ensure that its ingredients do not affect the lubrication or cutting performance of the fluid. For this reason, modern preservatives are often carefully formulated to maintain microbial inhibition without compromising other functions of the machining fluid.
One of the main factors for microbial growth is temperature. Warm and humid environments provide ideal conditions for microorganisms to reproduce. Therefore, many metalworking fluid preservatives are not only antimicrobial, but also stable for a long time within a certain temperature range. Too high or too low temperatures will affect the effectiveness of preservatives, so it is necessary to use the right preservative for the specific machining environment.
The pH value of the machining fluid is also an important factor affecting microbial growth. Acidic or alkaline fluids may inhibit the growth of some microorganisms, however, too extreme pH values ​​may also affect the cutting effect during machining. Therefore, the selection of preservatives needs to take into account the pH value of the fluid and its effect on microbial inhibition.