1. FORGING LUBRICANTS FOR THE HOT FORGING OF STEEL
Their impact in the forging quality, the life of the dies and the manufacturing of forged parts

2. IMPORTANCE OF LUBRICATION
In a Hot Forging process, DIE LUBRICATION is the KEY for QUALITY and PRODUCTIVITY.
Lubrication, however, is not an easy job and is very dependant on the right selection of parameters such as:
Lubricant and application types.
Team supervision and operator experience, even when fully automated systems are employed.

3. BENEFITS WHEN FORGING LUBRICANTS ARE USED
LUBRICATE (reduce the friction metal to metal thus allowing metal flow to occur in a smooth and controlled way)
RELEASE (make possible the removal of the forged part from the die)
COOLING (remove undesirable heat from dies)
PROTECT (protect and as a consequence extend the die life)

4. WHAT IS A FORGING LUBRICANT?
A lubricant for forging dies is a chemical compound that has a formulation that makes possible the forging process to be carried out within the limits and parameters considered paramount by the forging industry.

5. Usual types of Forging Lubricants
Graphite in water dispersions.
Graphite in oil dispersions.
Synthetic compounds based on organic salts.
Solid lubricants dispersions based on MoS2, Boron Nitride, Glass.

6. What is Graphite?
Graphite is one of the forms of the mineral Carbon. Its origin might be natural or artificial.

7. Important properties of Graphite
Geometry of the particles.
Particle size.
Degree of purity.

8. Structure of Graphite

9. Differences between the natural graphite and the synthetic or artificial graphite
Differences are more in the productive process rather than in the structure. Properties are almost identical.
Natural Graphite: mineral extraction.
Artificial Graphite: Produced from petroleum coke.

10. Myths and Trues about Graphite I
Only natural or artificial graphites of hexagonal and crhystalline structure properties
are appropriate. Amorphous graphites do not possess adequate lubricating
Myth
All graphites are equal?

11. Myths and Trues about Graphite II
Is the particle size the “differential” among the different graphites used by the Forging Lubricant manufacturers?
True and false at the same time. Very small particles are not always necessary in a given formulation. The combination of particle size and contained carbon contain is what really makes the difference.

12. FORGING DIE

13. Inter relation of variables in the forging process
Inter relation of variables in the forging process. Their impact in the adherence.
Degree of dilution of the concentrate.
Density of the lubricant mist.
Temperature of the die.
Pressure of the application of the lubricant over the die.

14. TRENDS IN DIE LUBRICATION I.
Applicational aspects
Process automation to make possible the manufacturing of an increasing number of parts per hour.
Application of the lubricant in the way of a spray atomization to make possible to penetrate the thermal barrier surrounding the dies and simultaneously lubricate and cool the dies.

15. TRENDS IN DIE LUBRICATION II
Applicational aspects
Use of robotics as main applicational equipment.
Functional lubricating systems-Automatic refilling of reservoirs.
Dosing systems.

16. FACTORS THAT HAVE INFLUENCE IN THE DIE LIFE
Pressure forces applied to the process
Speed of the metal flow.
Type and composition of metals forged.
Type of metals and treatments employed in the dies.
Friction coefficient imparted by the lubricant.

17. How must the forging lubricant perform to promote an extended die life
In first place forming a bonded film over the working die surface.
Secondly imparting to the die surface a reduced friction coefficient able to promote a smooth metal flow.
In third place imparting cooling properties.
In fourth place not generating build ups on the die surface.

18. Working temperature of the Forging Lubricant
To perform within accepted parameters the forging lubricant has to function at temperatures between 200 and 300 grades centigrades..

19. WHAT INFLUENCE THE HEAT REMOVAL OF THE DIES
Density of the lubricant.
Pressure of the lubricant deposition over the dies.

20. WHAT INFLUENCE THE FRICTION COEFFICIENT?
Adherence of the lubricant film to the dies.
Type and characteristic of the lubricant used.

21. What influences the die temperature?
Mass and contact time of the billet over the dies.

22. FACTOR NOT ALWAYS OBSERVED IN THE LUBRICATION
Quality of the water used in the dilution.
Homogeneity of the diluted lubricant.
Variation control of the solid content prior to
the application of the lubricant.

23. Main ingredients of a Forging Lubricant
Demineralized water.
Crystalline graphite (natural or sinthetic)
Binding agents.
Stabilizers.
Thickeners.
Bacteriological inhibitors.

24. Die Termography - I

25. Die Termography-II

26. Important target to achieve:
DIE LIFE
Important target to achieve:
Keep the total cost of the toolings below the 10% of the total manufacturing cost.

27. Lubrcation -Controls to make-I-
In the concentrate product:
Control of the manufactures’s specification
Type of graphite.
Particle size.
Ash content.
Total solid content and graphite content.
Viscosity and Ph of the concentrate.

28. Lubrication -Controls to make-II
In the diluted product:
Chek that the solid content chosen is correct and keep it constant during the product usage.
Check that the diluted product be under continuous agitation in the reservoir tank.

29. Lubrication -Controls to make-III
In and during its application
Time,angle,size of the lubricating drop,output and distance from the lubricating point to the areas to lubricate.

30. Lubricants -Controls to make -IV-
In the lubricating unit (Robot)
Time of positioning
Time of blow.
Time of retract.
Time of water cooling.
Output of water.
Time of lubrication.
Output of lubricant.

31. LUBRICATING SPRAY ATOMIZATION DROP TYPES

32. Interaction between the die and the billet
Extreme complexity because of:
Temperature and their control (variation in both).
Transference of heat and its removal(billet cooling and heating and cooling cycles of the die)
Time of contact billet/die.
Lubrication .
Die composition and treatments.

33. Technological barriers to overcome
Discovery of new ingredients/formulations that improve lubrication and reduce its incidence in the factors affecting die life.
Better understanding between the relationship of the lubricanting film and the die surface during the forging process.

34. The forging techniques-To think
Despite forging is a technology with high experimental content, scientific reaserch is gaining terrain in modern processes.
As per the above concept, the continuous observation of the process by the operational base (machine operators, maintennance teams,etc) the accurate register of the process variables becomes IMPORTANT.

35. Forged automotive parts

36. Hot upsetted pipes

37. Forgelube SRL de CV