A metalworking lubricant has one major goal –creating a separation between the metal and the tool. A decision to enhance this base oil takes the process a step further, increasing the potential benefits. This is accomplished by putting additives into lubricants for metalworking projects.
Five Benefits
Lubricants reduce the friction and the heat it produces. However, the addition of various additives enhances this goal and introduces diverse beneficial qualities. including:
- Inhibiting or controlling certain undesirable qualities: The type of additives used include
- Anti-Corrosive agents: Anti-corrosion additives ensure a decrease in this process occurring
- Anti-foam agents and defoamers
- Anti-Wear additives: These slow down or reduce the wear to machinery caused by friction
- Boosting reserve alkalinity
- Improving the boundary lubricity and pour-point depressants
- Decreasing energy consumption: By reducing friction in the metalworking process, specific additives in lubricants decrease the amount of energy required to form components
- Increasing the cleanliness of the workspace, the metal machinery and the workpiece: Lubricant additives decrease the number of particles adhering to the machinery. Additives also allow for easier cleaning of the machinery and formed components. The best additives are compatible with accessible and safe cleaning fluids
- Improving productivity: Lubricants with additives increase the time spent producing products and decrease that required for cleaning and/or lost during machinery break-downs and/or replacements
Why Additives in Lubricants?
Lubricants are a necessity in metalwork. Including additives in lubricants is even more essential. These substances work with the base oil to provide enhanced benefits for manufacturers.
