Ecologically benign lubricants : Evaluation from a life cycle perspective

Using mineral oil based coolants for the machining of metals causes environmental problems. Besides plant seed oil, animal fat and used cooking oil proved to be raw material sources for alternative ester based coolants which can be used as substitutes for mineral oil. In this paper their properties are compared from a life cycle perspective with those of mineral oil and plant seed oil ester products regarding technical, ecological and economical aspects. In this context grinding tests, Life Cycle Assessment and Life Cycle Costing were performed. The three disciplines are brought together in a material flow model and, therefore, results are well harmonized.