Measuring coolant concentration is a routine, but important process in the metalworking industry. For decades, the conventional method to determine the content of a solutions has been manual or automatic titration. However, recent studies have suggested a new approach using a cooling refractometer has shown the process to be a powerful alternative to titration.
Whether you are using a coolant refractometer or titrating, both become increasingly inaccurate based on contamination. Titrations can be inaccurate as alkaline and acid contamination enters the system. Refractometers can be inaccurate when excessive contamination starts to impact the refractive index.
A coolant refractometer will measure the “percent solid”, the concentration of a solid substance in water or other fluids. Light slows down or speeds up as it enters a fluid, depending on the density of the sample. By sending light through a fluid sample, a refractometer can be used to determine the speed of this refracted light and report it using various scales .
Advantages using a refractometer versus a titration:
- Versatile – Use on a variety of Industrial Fluids that are water dilutable
- Inexpensive – Low initial cost and low levels of maintenance
- Immediate Results – Have results immediately and can react immediately
- Operation – Easy and portable
Refractometers also offer very quick, yet precise measurement despite only being able to measure the concentration of binary solutions. Ensuring the proper composition of a fluid can be the difference in smooth operations or increased maintenance so a coolant refractometer provides very fast quality control of such multi-component mixtures. Additionally, refractometers can be used for checking the concentration of the titrants used later on for the titration procedure.
In the end, it is important to develop a consistent process that works for your individual plant and metalworking needs. Contact a Fusion specialist to discuss your metalworking needs and for help determining your best course of action.
