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Abstract
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Water-miscible metalworking fluids (MWFs), commonly used in metal forming operations, are lubricants that
must be safe for direct human contact. The proper selection of materials in a new metalworking fluid, while being
environmentally friendly, helps to inhibit microbial growth, reduce operational issues, extend tool life, and ul-
timately lower costs. A common issue with MWFs is microbial degradation by bacteria and fungi, which is
facilitated by available nutrients, such as carbon, at population densities exceeding 106 CFU/ml. In this study,
alkanolamines, oleic acid, and boric acid were evaluated for their effectiveness as antimicrobial agents. The
inherent biological resistance of the MWF was assessed using an unknown biological inoculum collected from a
device at Iran’s Tractor Manufacturing Company, in accordance with ASTM E2275 standards. The results indi-
cated that the new fluid, in the absence of conventional biocides, maintained its inherent biological resistance for
more than five weeks.
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