Pressure on Product Labelling
Recent changes in H&S legislation on assessing the product labelling of MWFs under the Classification Labelling & Packaging (CLP) regulation can result in the classification of aqueous concentrates as causing serious eye damage, resulting in the “corrosive” symbol on the drum. Many end-users lack the training in understanding product labels and Safety Data Sheets and this hazard symbol can make operators unwilling to work with these fluids.
In many cases, the free amine levels within an aqueous based MWF product can trigger such labelling, as is the case with many chemical grinding fluid concentrates. Thus, the type and level of amine (normally as alkanolamine) is an important consideration to the formulator. Fortunately, the choice and availability has increased over recent years with many suppliers offering new materials with extra benefits in terms of corrosion protection and increasing sump life.
Amine-free MWFs have increased, in part due to operator dermatitis problems and in part due to adverse labelling with “amines”. This product type has improved since its introduction and many modern amine-free MWFs offer comparable sump life to long-life “boron” semi-synthetics.
Avoiding Sensitisers
Nowadays formulators work much more closely with their H&S Departments, keeping up-to-date with forthcoming changes to chemical hazard classifications. This is particularly important with skin sensitising substances which are actively being replaced by safer alternatives.
Biocides and the BPR
The implementation of the Biocides Products Regulation (BPR) has probably made the single greatest impact on the formulation of aqueous MWFs. The most common biocides in MWFs were formaldehyde condensation products, referred to as “formaldehyde-releasing” biocides. Due to the re-classification of formaldehyde, many of these biocides have also been re-classified as Category 1B carcinogens, Category 2 mutagens and skin sensitizers. This will ultimately restrict their use in MWF concentrates in the future, though they may retain some applicability in sump side post treatment.
Biocides at the Crossroad In response, many manufacturers have offered formaldehyde-free and biocide-free products, some using clever pH buffering chemistry to provide stability against micro-organisms and maintain long sump life.
Another approach has been Bio-concept fluids which prevent the spoiling of MWFs by cultivating non-pathogenic bacteria as a defense against harmful bacteria. However, this fluid technology is under evaluation by the UK Health & Safety Executive (HSE) because of their concerns about the health effects caused by the exposure of operators to bacteria and chemical substances in mists and spray.
Ultimately, the supply of new biocides into the MWF market has reduced significantly due to the high costs and risks involved in pursuing the BPR process. Despite this, formulators are still working closely with their biocide suppliers to find effective combinations of existing actives which have acceptable labelling and are effective in-use.
Going Sump Side It’s not just formaldehyde release biocides which have undergone revision. Other biocides classes, such as “isothiazolinones”, have undergone more severe labelling restrictions resulting in some form of labelling in-use. This is new to end-users, particularly to operators who’ve not seen hazard labelling on machine sumps before.
Continued on page 12 LUBE MAGAZINE NO.146 AUGUST 2018 11
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