Tool lubricating systems in warm forging

In order to secure healthier working conditions in the forging shops and minimal environmental impact in combination with an optimal tool life, the European Community has funded a Brite-Euram industrial research project on the development of environmentally friendly tool lubricating systems for the warm forging of steel. The partners involved in the project included two lubricant suppliers, a press manufacturer, a company specialized in investigations of environmental impact, a technical university and several companies as end users. The experiments carried out in the scope of this project show that selection of die lubricants and slug coatings cannot be considered in isolation and should be treated as a package. In major applications of warm forging operations, such as forward or backward extrusion, an additional lubricant is needed in applying a lubricating coating to the slug. The best results concerning environmental impact and tool life are achieved by the application of a tool lubricating systems consisting of a graphite-based slug coating and an oil–graphite-free die lubricant.