Determination of Thermo Physical Properties of Water-Extract from Fermented Ground Maize (WEFGM) as Possible Alternative to Water Use as Cutting Fluid

Abstract

Water has so far been regarded as the best cutting fluid but its corrosion-influence on the work piece has necessitated searching for an alternative. Meanwhile, water-extract from fermented ground maize (WEFGM) processed from two (western yellow and kewesoke white) maize varieties have been considered having been previously found to contain corrosion inhibitors. Its density, viscosity and specific heat capacity (SHC) were determined and compared with that of water. The results showed that white and yellow WEFGM give densities with percentage decrease of 0.1 and 1.0% relative to water respectively. Using Stokes’s law, the ratios of the viscosities for white WEFGM, yellow WEFGM and water were 1.22: 1.17: 1.00 and 1.20: 1.26: 1.00 respectively for the smallest (diameter of 0.45 cm) and biggest (diameter of 1.4 cm) spheres. T-test shows that there is no significant difference in the densities and viscosities values of all the samples (P<0.05). The result of SHC gives the ratio of 1.16:1.03:1.00 respectively for white, yellow and water samples with white and yellow having higher SHC than water with a difference of 15.7 and 3.6% respectively. Higher thermal capacity, presence of corrosion inhibitors with density and viscosity not quite dissimilar, viewed holistically, makes WEFGM having a better prospect than water as cutting fluid.