Dry lube - it sounds like an oxymoron but that's just what it is. A way to enhance stamping performance without adding lubrication, and subsequently, without the post cleaning often necessary. Today's new dry coating products and state-of-the-art application methods are bringing new results for stampers and metal formers.

New synthetic polymer-based dry film lubricants applied with the latest advanced technology offer some distinct advantages over oil-based lubricants. These include:

1. Less lubricant needed when using a dry film coating because the dry coating can be applied in a precise thickness on the coil and does not run off.
2. Die washing and other costly cleaning procedures, which can create hazardous waste, are no longer necessary.
3. Corrosion resistance is enhanced with a pre-treatment layer that can be applied under the dry film lubricant.
4. Dry film lubricants provide superior performance in deepdraw applications, and on high strength steels.
5. Because they don't contain oil, dry films provide an excellent surface for welding and other assembly methods, including adhesive bonding.
6. A more consistent lubricity increases stamping die life.
7. Dry film product combined with coil coating have fewer environmental issues than other lubes.

While there is a cost premium associated with purchasing metal already pretreated with the dry film lubricant, cost savings elsewhere provide a greater payback in increased productivity and tool life. By using the continuous coil coating method in conjunction with a dry lube product, some manufacturers have reported up to double productivity when they eliminated the steps required to prep parts for stamping. The pre-applied dry film lubricant saves time and streamlines the process significantly.

Dry film can also solve handling issues. Dry-film coated blanks dissipate heat, eliminating the extra time and effort of dealing with hot parts, which also extends tool life.

Other formers have found that switching to dry film from oil-based lube reduces the mess of dealing with oily parts, not to mention the cost and hassle of regularly replacing oil-soaked gloves worn by operators.

Other benefits of the most advanced dry films include improved formability in materials, which is being used more in the automotive industry. In welding applications, these products can reduce smoke, eliminate buildup on weld tips and even allow for less amperage to perform welding. New dry film products combined with the coil coating application are creating significant improvements in productivity and cost savings for manufacturers.

For more information about applying dry film lubricants via coil coating, visit www.coilcoatinginstitute.org or call National Coil Coating Association at 216.241.7333.