Corrosion is either partial or complete wearing, dissolving, or softening of metal substances due to chemical reactions. You may call this “rust”, but this isn’t always accurate as rust only applies to iron and steel. Corrosion is all-inclusive as it applies to ferrous and non-ferrous metals. Here are some ways corrosion can be caused and some corrective actions you can take.

Corrosion is a problem faced by every user of water diluted metalworking fluids. Water has a greater capacity for removing heat than oil and heat removal is one of the most important functions of this fluid. Water alone, however, leads to corrosion when in contact with freshly machined metals. Corrosion, though, can also occur with dry cutting.

Corrosion can happen any time of year. It usually occurs more frequently during later summer months such as July through September in the Eastern and Midwestern parts of the country due to the high temperatures and humidity. Chemical reactions increase when temperatures increase and this also includes corrosion. You may need to increase the concentration in your fluid during these months to counter the rust and corrosion.

The pH of your fluid plays a part in controlling corrosion, as well. Higher pH levels (greater than 9) can protect ferrous metals but will adversely affect corrosion control of non-ferrous metals. If the pH is low in your machine, dump it, clean it out, and refill with a new mix of the fluid at the recommended concentration. If you notice staining or pitting in your non-ferrous metals, check to see if the product you’re using was designed for use with non-ferrous metals.

If corrosion protection is required for longer periods of time, then a long-term rust preventative may be needed. Normal in-process rust protection provides up to 72 hours of rust control for a variety of metals. At the correct concentrations, you can expect 48 hours of protection for cast iron and 72 for high alloy steels.

Ensuring you are using the right product for the material you are using is always the first step. But if you are having issues with your metal being unprotected, do some research, check the manufacturer’s recommendations, and don’t be afraid to clean out your fluid and start over to ensure you get the desired results.

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