ABSTRACT
This chapter talks about history of the evolution of metalworking fluids, one of the most important and least understood tools of the manufacturing process. The number of gallons of metalworking fluids produced and sold in the United States represents a significant slice of the gross national product, as indicated in 2013 report. The practice of using metalworking fluids was concomitant with machine tool development both in the United States and in England. R. S. Woodbury relates further evidence for the use of water as a metalworking fluid. In 1838, James Whitelaw developed a cylindrical grinding machine for grinding the surface of pulleys, wherein "a cover was provided to keep in the splash of water". One of most important factors was the discovery of huge quantities of petroleum in United States in 1859, which eventually had a profound influence on the compounding of metalworking fluids. Petroleum at that time was largely refined for the production of kerosene used for illumination and fuel.
