Comparison of Aluminum Cold Strip Rolling Lubricant Additives

Strip rolling processes are conducted in the mixed lubrication regime, so that boundary additives are an essential feature of the rolling oil. Fatty alcohols are by far the preferred additives: why are they dominant, and what makes them so good for this particular application? A series of model lubricants have been formulated and tested first with the Plane-Strain Compression Test (PSCT) from RT to 200°C. Then some of the formulations have been studied on a high-speed experimental rolling mill. Conclusions from PSCT and rolling tests converge on several points. Fatty alcohols indeed outperform all other formulations; combining them with other molecules may degrade their action.