Industrial Fluid

Abstract

An industrial fluid is disclosed. The fluid comprises an oleaginous component, an aqueous component, and a surfactant. Substantially all of the surfactant is bound within micelles of the oleaginous component. This results in there being substantially no unbound surfactant present in the fluid. The industrial fluid is also substantially flee from insoluble defoamers or anti-foam compounds.

1 . Industrial fluid comprising an emulsion of:
 An oleaginous component;   An aqueous component; and   A surfactant;   Wherein either the oleaginous component or the aqueous component form micelles with the surfactant;   Wherein the surfactant is bound within the micelles such that there is substantially no unbound surfactant present in the industrial fluid, and   Wherein, in use, the industrial fluid is undiluted, diluted with a diluent or as an additive to a carrier fluid.   
     
     
         2 . Industrial fluid as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the industrial fluid is free from insoluble defoamer and anti-foam compounds. 
     
     
         3 . Industrial fluid as claimed in  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the average diameter of the micelles follows a Gaussian distribution having a mean and wherein the standard deviation σ is less than or equal to 0.2μ. 
     
     
         4 . Industrial fluid as claimed in  claim 1 ,  2  or  3 , wherein the average diameter of a micelle is ≤0.3 μm. 
     
     
         5 . Industrial fluid as claimed in any of  claims 1  to  4 , wherein the micelle is a normal-phase micelle, and the oleaginous component forms the centre of the micelle. 
     
     
         6 . Industrial fluid as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the surface comprises at least one surfactant monomer layer. 
     
     
         7 . Industrial fluid as claimed in any of  claims 1  to  6 , wherein the structure of the surfactant dictates the structure of the micelle. 
     
     
         8 . Industrial fluid as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the micelle is an inverse-phase micelle, and at least some of the aqueous component forms the centre of the micelle. 
     
     
         9 . Industrial fluid as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the industrial fluid is chosen from: lubricating, energy dissipating, energy generating or energy transmission fluids. 
     
     
         10 . Industrial fluid as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the industrial fluid is a lubricating fluid and wherein the oleaginous component comprises a lubricating composition. 
     
     
         11 . Industrial fluid as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the lubricating composition is a Group I, II, II, IV or V base oil. 
     
     
         12 . Industrial fluid as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the lubricating composition comprises a blend of components, at least one of which has lubricating properties. 
     
     
         13 . Industrial fluid as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the surfactant comprises at least one ionic surfactant, at least one non-ionic surfactant or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         14 . Industrial fluid as claimed in any of  claims 1  to  9 , wherein the industrial fluid is used in a destructive metalworking process. 
     
     
         15 . Industrial fluid as claimed in any of  claims 1  to  9 , wherein the industrial fluid is used in a deformation metalworking process. 
     
     
         16 . Industrial fluid as claimed any of  claims 9  to  13 , wherein the industrial fluid is used in an automotive application. 
     
     
         17 . Industrial fluid as claimed in any of  claims 1  to  9 , wherein the industrial fluid is used in an industrial, marine or subsea process. 
     
     
         18 . Industrial fluid as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the industrial fluid is an energy dissipating fluid. 
     
     
         19 . Industrial fluid as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the industrial fluid is an energy generating fluid. 
     
     
         20 . Industrial fluid as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the industrial fluid is a fuel. 
     
     
         21 . Industrial fluid as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the industrial fluid is an energy transmission fluid. 
     
     
         22 . Industrial fluid as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the industrial fluid is an additive to the group of carrier fluids comprising: lubricating, energy dissipating or energy generating fluids. 
     
     
         23 . Industrial fluid as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the diluent is water. 
     
     
         24 . A method of forming an industrial fluid, comprising:
 Forming a first fluid comprising a surfactant;   Forming a second fluid comprising an oleaginous compound;   Mixing the first fluid and the second fluid under a shear force to produce an intermediate fluid; and   Mixing an aqueous fluid and the intermediate fluid under laminar flow to create an industrial fluid.   
     
     
         25 . Method of making an industrial fluid in accordance with any of  claims 1  to  23  using the method as claimed in  claim 24 . 
     
     
         26 . An industrial fluid made using the method of  claim 24 .