Synergex™ SynergexTM product selection guide

Eastman's Synergex line of amine additives significantly boosts performance while extending the life of your metalworking fluids.

SynergexTM T, Synergex T Plus & MDEA (N-methyl diethanolamine)

The combination of Synergex T Plus, Synergex T & MDEA allows formulation of formaldehyde-free and boron-free metalworking fluids.

• Synergex T is a lower VOC (< 25% volatile by ASTM E 1868) amine additive for metalworking fluids.
• Both Synergex T Plus and Synergex T are tertiary amines.
• Both Synergex T Plus and Synergex T are pure products.

MDEA (Methyldiethanolamine) is an ideal lower odor, lower VOC, economically priced alkanolamine that can be used to bring the pH of the operating fluid up to 9. Use MDEA instead of MEA, DEA and TEA to help improve performance at a reasonable cost.

Concentrates formulated with 3% Synergex T Plus and either 10% phenoxyethanol or 10% phenoxypropanol type biocontrol agent are recommended.

Concentrates formulated with 5% Synergex T and either 10% phenoxyethanol or 10% phenoxypropanol type biocontrol agent are recommended.

The following concentrate formula represents a good starting point for fully synthetic fluids based on SynergexTM T Plus & MDEA.

• The biocontrol system can be changed from phenoxyethanol to 50ppm BIT (diluted fluid) – use water to adjust volumes. The phenoxyethanol biocontrol system can be swapped out for BIT (50 ppm effective concentration operating fluid; adjust concentrate volume with water).
• Polyalkylene glycol (Polartech SGL) is formulated specifically for use in high performance fully synthetic metalworking fluids.

The above concentrate can be diluted 20/1 to provide the operating fluid. The addition of preferred corrosion inhibiting additive(s)and/or packages is recommended. Note that tertiary diethanolamines like Synergex T and Synergex T Plus are known to provide longer life in fully synthetic metalworking fluids (see; Golec, K.; Hill, E.C.; Kazemi, P.; Skold, R. O.; Tribology International 1989, 22(6), 375 – 382.)

Formulating with Synergex™

Synergex™ products can extend coolant life and improve the performance of most water-based metalworking fluids.

Eastman's Synergex^™ family of multi-functional amine additives can be used in combination with other amines or used by themselves in a concentrate, used tank side, or used to make corrosion inhibiting salts and amides. Synergex^™ products can extend coolant life and improve the performance of most water-based metalworking fluids.

Including Synergex™ in your coolant formulas can offer multiple benefits:

Amine carboxylate with Synergex™

One of the easiest ways to insert Synergex into synthetic and semi-synthetic formulations is to prepare a Synergex dicarboxylate salt rust inhibitor. The following example can easily be prepared by simple blending without the use of an outside source of heat:

If this Synergex™ salt is used to make up 24% of the synthetic or semi-synthetic formulation, then the concentration of Synergex™ in the final concentrate will be 6%, ideal for optimizing all the benefits of a synergistic amine. The above Synergex™ salt will be replacing rust inhibitors that typically contain only 5% to 25% water so adjust your formula accordingly.

Recommended semi-synthetic formula

The Semi-Synthetic formula with a Synergex™ salt rust inhibitor was compared to a Semi-Synthetic formula made from DCHA and another Semi-Synthetic formula with a commercial TEA/Primary amine based Boramide. All three formulas showed no rust in distilled water at a 5% dilution in a typical cast iron chip on filter paper rust test. The aluminum leaching results were very favorable to Synergex™ containing semi-synthetics. Also in the cobalt leach, the Synergex™ containing synthetics did very well. Lastly, the Cast Iron Chip rust testing showed that at the concentrations necessary for long coolant life (5% dilution), there is no trace of rust.

Synergex™ neutralizing amine as rust inhibitors

Synergex™ neutralizing amine additives¹ have anti-rust properties superior to those of commodity ethanolamines such as monoethanolamine (MEA) & triethanolamine (TEA), and they will tolerate higher carboxylate contents (with less water) when used in a water soluble metalworking fluid rust inhibitor concentrate. One such formula has been used with self emulsifying esters (SEE's), reverse block polymers and tramp oil rejecting emulsifiers in semisynthetic metalworking fluid concentrates.

Table 1 — Rust inhibitor M116 — Synergex/MIPA/Corfree® M1

^*Monoisopropanolamine

^*Corfree®is a registered trademark of INVISTA S.a.r.l.

Note that when the acid and base values are taken into consideration, the base to acid ratio is 1.5 to 1. This ratio will be maintained throughout the study. There is an unusually high level of di-acid content in this rust inhibitor, and yet it remains a liquid at room temperature. There is no need to store this product in a "hot box" prior to blending it into a metalworking fluid. Sebacic acid, a readily available potential substitute for Corfree® M1, was used in this study. However, there are other diacids which can be considered, including dodecanedioic acid (DDDA). Note that DDDA is the majority component of Corfree® M1, and DDDA is commercially available (and forecasted to be available for the foreseeable future).² Several diacids and mixtures of diacids, neutralized with varied amines, were studied for their corrosion inhibition properties (see table 2). Five inhibitor packages were formulated @15% (w/w) concentrations into sample synthetic light cutting & grinding fluids, along with 15% concentration of TEA and 10% polyalkylene glycol 660, with a balance of water (~60%). The formulated sample fluids were then diluted to 3% and were used to wet cast iron chips placed on filter paper within aluminum pans. The fluid was removed, and the wet chips were evaporated to dryness overnight. Visual results of overnight corrosion are displayed in Figure 1. Note that visual inspection of iron chips from various diacids neutralized with the Synergex-MIPA combination show no corrosion, whereas the chips exposed to TEA/MEA neutralized Corfree® M1 fluid display significant rust.

¹ http://www.eastman.com/Brands/Synergex/Pages/Overview.aspx

² http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/dodecanedioic-acid-ddda-industry

Table 2 The formulas for the rust inhibitors

Aqualox® is a registered trademark of the Lubrizol Corporation.

Corfree® is a registered trademark of INVISTA S.a.r.l.

Emerox® is a registered trademark of Emery Oleochemicals GMBH.

Formula 3 Synergex/MIPA/Corfree® M1 is the same as the rust inhibitor with Synergex/MIPA/Corfree® M1 from table 1

Because only formula #5 showed rust, we conclude that Synergex/MIPA is a better amine combination than TEA/MEA for preventing rust. At 15% by weight in the coolant concentrate, the amount TEA at 6% dilution of the metalworking fluid is 9,000 ppm. The contribution of MIPA and Synergex from 15% of the rust inhibitor is 2,722 ppm, sufficient for long life activity. The rust testing was done at 3% just to stress the fluid otherwise there would be no rust at all with the fresh dilutions. Because these formulas represent synthetic metalworking fluids, there was no oil in any of the finished fluid formulas. Using Synergex and MIPA to make up the rust inhibitor instead of the more common use of TEA & MEA, allows for not only a more rust resistant formula but also one that has long life properties.

Synergex™ LA lipophilic amine

The hydrophobic/hydrophilic amine combination

An excellent hydrophobic alkanolamine for hydrophobic/ hydrophilic amine combinations. Synergex LA, especially in combination with a hydrophilic amine, can allow for exceptionally stable emulsions. Combining hydrophobic tertiary amines with hydrophilic primary amines can provide for greater fluid stability than a single amine can on its own. Synergex LA can provide for greatly extended fluid life when combined with MIPA (monoisopropanolamine).

Challenge Tests

Synergex™ LA is an ideal hydrophobic amine for metalworking

As the following table illustrates, Synergex LA provides faster wetting time on aluminium when compared to many other amines. A balanced combination of Synergex LA with MIPA can provide for greatly extended fluid life (see formula below).

Two drops of diluted fluid are deposited on the aluminum foil and the tine to spread out to the prescribed lines is timed and reported as the "seconds aluminum wetting time".

^* HOSS emulsion fluid used for studies

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