LAUSR

Sheet metal forming belongs to one of the most important technologies enabling the production durable but quite lightweight metal parts. The quality of the drawn parts depends on the deformed sheet metal, applied forming technology and process parameters, such as contact pressure, relative velocity, temperature or lubrication. The forming of steel (1.4021) parts using benign lubricant is analysed. The paper proposes replacing conventional mineral/synthetic lubricants with ones based on vegetable oils and boric acid. The effectiveness of the lubricants was assessed in laboratory strip drawing and cupping tests, and in production. An oil-based lubricant with an additive of boric acid is very effective in reducing frictional resistance and protecting the forming tools against galling.