Osnovna svojstva čistih ulja za obradbu metala: podmazivanje, hlađenje i ispiranje čestica te ostala svojstva postižu se izborom baznog ulja i aditiva. Glavni faktori koje treba uzeti u obzir pri razvoju tekućina za obradbu metala su, osim razvitka tehnologija obradbe, briga o sigurnosti ljudi pri radu i zaštita okoliša. Stoga se štetne komponente u sastavu ulja nastoje zamijeniti manje štetnima ili biološki lako razgradljivima. Tako se i za bazna ulja mineralnog podrijetla, koja se u primjeni najviše rabe, istražuju moguće zamjene. Mineralna bazna ulja se mogu zamijeniti sintetičkim uljima ili tekućinama, te uljima i mastima prirodnog podrijetla. Prirodna ulja i masti su esteri masnih kiselina, a mogu se primijeniti u izvornoj formi ili prerađena odgovarajućim fizikalnim i kemijskim postupcima s ciljem dobivanja stabilnijih spojeva i definirane kemijske strukture.
U ovom su radu osmišljene i ispitane nove formulacije ulja za obradbu metala koje sadrže biorazgradljiva ulja kao zamjenu za mineralna bazna ulja. Također je ispitana mogućnost njihove primjene u nekim procesima obradbe metala.The main properties of neat metalworking oils: lubrication, cooling and chips cleaning and other properties are achieved by base oil and additive selection. The concern of people safety at work and ecological protection become leading factors in metalworking fluid development and application. Besides, the modern fluids should meet severe demands of machine constructions and also take place in total costs lowering of metalworking operation. Increased material disposal costs and also ecological concern lead customers to the selection of less harmful fluids and optimal procedures of their disposal. In metalworking fluids composition there is an influence of cutting down the harmful compounds as are chlorinated paraffines, nitrites, diethanolamine, compounds with aromatic nucleus, borates, etc. Base oils which are commonly of mineral origin can be changed with other types, especially with renewable origin.
The aim of this work was to create and examine several new formulations of metalworking fluids containing biodegradable oils as possible replacement of mineral base oils. The possibility of their applications in some metalworking operations was examined as well