Antimicrobial metal working fluids

1. A process for reducing the presence of Mycobacteria in an aqueous alkaline metal working environment, comprising providing to the metal working environment an aqueous metal working fluid incorporating a Mycobacterium inhibitory amount of at least one amine of formula Ib:

wherein each R 1 is independently C 8 -C 10 alkyl and each R 2 and R 3 is —CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 —.

2. The process according to claim 1 wherein said aqueous metal working fluid further comprises a workpiece corrosion inhibitor.

3. The process according to claim 2 wherein said workpiece corrosion inhibitor comprises ethanolamine combined with boric acid, a triazole compound, an organic carboxylic acid having 6-10 carbon atoms, a dicarboxylic acid having 10-14 carbon atoms, or any combination thereof.

4. The process according to claim 1 wherein said aqueous metal working fluid comprises about 10 to about 10,000 ppm of said at least one amine.

5. The process according to claim 1 wherein said aqueous metal working fluid comprises about 3,000 to about 6,000 ppm of said at least one amine.

6. The process according to claim 1 wherein said aqueous metal working fluid comprises about 3,000 ppm of said at least one amine.

7. The process according to claim 1 wherein said aqueous metal working fluid further comprises a film-forming additive, an antifoaming agent, or both.

8. A process for reducing the presence of Mycobacteria in an aqueous alkaline metal working environment. comprising providing to the metal working environment an aqueous metal working fluid incorporating a Mycobacterium inhibitory amount of at least one amine of formula Ib:

wherein each R 1 is independently C 2 -C 18 alkyl; and

wherein each R 2 and R 3 is independently C 2 -C 4 alkylene.

9. A process for reducing the presence of Mycobacteria in an aqueous alkaline metal working environment. comprising providing to the metal working environment an aqueous metal working fluid incorporating a Mycobacterium inhibitory amount of at least one amine of formula Ib:

wherein each R 1 is independently C 2 -C 10 alkyl; and

wherein each R 2 and R 3 is independently C 2 -C 4 alkylene.

10. The process according to claim 1 wherein the aqueous alkaline metal working fluid remains stable after exposure to workpiece-tool contact zone working temperatures.

11. The process according to claim 1 wherein the aqueous alkaline metal working fluid remains effective against growth of Mycobacterium after exposure to a workpiece-tool contact zone working pressure of greater than about 60 psi.

12. The process according to claim 1 wherein said aqueous metal working fluid comprises at least about 41% to about 99% water.

13. A process for reducing the presence of Mycobacteria in an aqueous alkaline metal working environment. comprising providing to the metal working environment an aqueous metal working fluid incorporating a Mycobacterium inhibitory amount of at least one amine of formula Ia or Ib:

wherein each R 1 is independently C 2 -C 18 alkyl;

wherein each R 2 and R 3 is independently C 2 -C 4 alkylene; and

wherein said aqueous metal working fluid incorporates more than one amine of formula Ia or Ib.

14. The process according to claim 13 at least one of said more than one amine has the formula Ia wherein R 1 is C 2 -C 9 alkyl.

15. The process according to claim 13 wherein said aqueous metal working fluid incorporates a Mycobacterium inhibitory amount of at least two straight-chain amines of formula Ia or Ib, wherein R 1 is C 2 -C 10 alkyl.

16. The process according to claim 8 wherein said aqueous metal working fluid further comprises a workpiece corrosion inhibitor.

17. The process according to claim 16 wherein said workpiece corrosion inhibitor comprises ethanolamine combined with boric acid, a triazole compound, an organic carboxylic acid having 6-10 carbon atoms, a dicarboxylic acid having 10-14 carbon atoms, or any combination thereof.

18. The process according to claim 8 wherein said aqueous metal working fluid comprises about 10 to about 10,000 ppm of said at least one amine.

19. The process according to claim 8 wherein said aqueous metal working fluid comprises about 3,000 to about 6,000 ppm of said at least one amine.

20. The process according to claim 8 wherein said aqueous metal working fluid comprises about 3,000 ppm of said at least one amine.

21. The process according to claim 8 wherein said aqueous metal working fluid further comprises a film-forming additive, an antifoaming agent, or both.

22. The process according to claim 8 wherein the aqueous alkaline metal working fluid remains stable after exposure to workpiece-tool contact zone working temperatures.

23. The process according to claim 8 wherein the aqueous alkaline metal working fluid remains effective against growth of Mycobacterium after exposure to a workpiece-tool contact zone working pressure of greater than about 60 psi.

24. The process according to claim 8 wherein said aqueous metal working fluid comprises at least about 41% to about 99% water.

25. The process according to claim 9 wherein said aqueous metal working fluid further comprises a workpiece corrosion inhibitor.

26. The process according to claim 25 wherein said workpiece corrosion inhibitor comprises ethanolamine combined with boric acid, a triazole compound, an organic carboxylic acid having 6-10 carbon atoms, a dicarboxylic acid having 10-14 carbon atoms, or any combination thereof.

27. The process according to claim 9 wherein said aqueous metal working fluid comprises about 10 to about 10,000 ppm of said at least one amine.

28. The process according to claim 9 wherein said aqueous metal working fluid comprises about 3,000 to about 6,000 ppm of said at least one amine.

29. The process according to claim 9 wherein said aqueous metal working fluid comprises about 3,000 ppm of said at least one amine.

30. The process according to claim 9 wherein said aqueous metal working fluid further comprises a film-forming additive, an antifoaming agent, or both.

31. The process according to claim 9 wherein the aqueous alkaline metal working fluid remains stable after exposure to workpiece-tool contact zone working temperatures.

32. The process according to claim 9 wherein the aqueous alkaline metal working fluid remains effective against growth of Mycobacterium after exposure to a workpiece-tool contact zone working pressure of greater than about 60 psi.

33. The process according to claim 9 wherein said aqueous metal working fluid comprises at least about 41% to about 99% water.

34. The process according to claim 13 wherein said aqueous metal working fluid further comprises a workpiece corrosion inhibitor.

35. The process according to claim 34 wherein said workpiece corrosion inhibitor comprises ethanolamine combined with boric acid, a triazole compound, an organic carboxylic acid having 6-10 carbon atoms, a dicarboxylic acid having 10-14 carbon atoms, or any combination thereof.

36. The process according to claim 13 wherein said aqueous metal working fluid comprises about 10 to about 10,000 ppm of said at least one amine.

37. The process according to claim 13 wherein said aqueous metal working fluid comprises about 3,000 to about 6,000 ppm of said at least one amine.

38. The process according to claim 13 wherein said aqueous metal working fluid comprises about 3,000 ppm of said at least one amine.

39. The process according to claim 13 wherein said aqueous metal working fluid further comprises a film-forming additive, an antifoaming agent, or both.

40. The process according to claim 13 wherein the aqueous alkaline metal working fluid remains stable after exposure to workpiece-tool contact zone working temperatures.

41. The process according to claim 13 wherein the aqueous alkaline metal working fluid remains effective against growth of Mycobacterium after exposure to a workpiece-tool contact zone working pressure of greater than about 60 psi.

42. The process according to claim 13 wherein said aqueous metal working fluid comprises at least about 41% to about 99% water.