Lubricants are widely used in all sectors of industry for
cooling and lubricating the tool and work-piece interface
in order to enhance machinability. Owing to the advantages of cutting fluids, their consumption in the machining
industry is increasing rapidly. In 2005, the amount of lubricants used in machining was reported as nearly 38 Mt with
an estimated increase of 1.2% over the next decade.
Approximately 85% of the cutting fluids used around the
world are mineral-based. The increased use of mineral
and petroleum based oil causes several negative impacts
on the environment and poses significant health hazards.
It is reported that around 80% of all occupational infections
of operators were due to skin contact with cutting fluids