What Is Wire Drawing Powder? Is There A Better Alternative?
In the thermal industry, “wire drawing lubricant powder”, or “dry wire drawing lubricant”, is how the wire drawing powder used is referred to. It plays a role of protection and lubrication and, when metal wire is drawn, it is the process lubricating material. This industrial metal mineral processing product is relatively small – a large amount of wire drawing powder is not used.
Producing Wire Drawing Powder
Wire drawing powder’s main components consist of industrial alkali, talcum powder, stearic acid, soap, paraffin, animal oil, slaked lime, and more. Generally, it is divided into calcium soap and sodium soap.
- The saponification reaction of white ash and fatty acid is responsible for calcium soap.
- The saponification reaction of alkali and fatty acid is responsible for sodium soap.
Also different is the selected drawing powder’s oil content, depending on the drawing process. The higher the oil content, generally speaking, the more expensive the price.
Drawing Powder And Friction
When you couple the high-speed at which wire moves through wire drawing machines with pressure on wire drawing dies, as a result of friction, a large amount of heat is produced. To lower this wire drawing friction, only a couple of practical solutions were available – until recently.
- One solution was to use specific lubricants between the dies, the moving wire, and the wire drawing block. However, some physical limitations are involved with this technique.
- To reduce the production output, the drawing machines were slowed down as a second alternative.
Here is what you really need to know: Without suffering the limitations of either of the above suggested “solutions”, the issue of heat generation is tackled and adeptly handled by specialized thermal spraying solutions available through A&A Coatings.
Wire Drawing Industry Services
By coating the wire drawing capstans with non-sticking, low friction, abrasion resistant mixtures, A&A Coatings has tackled friction lowering techniques. We have, in fact, trademarked the perfect mixture now known as Wirewear® coating.
Substantial improvement is exhibited by this new capstan material in the manufacture of nonferrous and ferrous wire. This applies to wire sizes as large as .375 down to .031. Benefits of this coating include the following:
- Coating surface exhibits low friction coefficient
- Hard and resistant to abrasion
- Increased hardness in service
- For a hard coating material, demonstrates impressive elasticity
In the wire processing industry, to improve the performance of other components, wear resistant coatings can also be provided. These can include the following:
- Blocks
- Capstans
- Annealed pulleys
- Guides
- Rings
- Rollers
- Pulleys
- Sheaves
Your Wire Drawing Industry Thermal Spray Partner
Over the years, we at A&A Coatings, have become a trusted partner to the industry of wire drawing. Thanks to our above mentioned Wirewear® coatings and superb services, we have solved some of the hardest challenges for numerous wire drawing businesses.
In the wire drawing industry, our thermal spray knowledge is highly recognized, and, for all our coating services, we guarantee highly competitive pricing. Isn’t it time to take your business to the next level? Let us help.
Call or email us today if you’d like more information about our Wirewear® coatings, various other wire thermal spray solutions, or another thermal spray matter entirely.
