EoW January 2014

News Technology

Condat’s solution to phosphatation

The preparation of the wire surface before drawing is an essential stage to optimise the manufacturing process. Generally, two processes are used: either a surface treatment with borax directly after acid pickling of the wire, or for more technical applications, a phosphatation step before borax or lime coating operations. Condat now offers the solution for an effective and durable surface treatment. A surface treatment with borax or phosphate presents a certain number of disadvantages. On one side, borax is now classified as toxic for reproduction and is identified by REACH as a substance of very high concern. In certain areas, the threshold authorised in the effluents can pose problems to companies. In addition, the performance of a borax surface treatment is not optimum when wiredrawing speeds need to be increased. On the other side, phosphate treatment provides a high level of performance for the wire drawing of high carbon steels but it reveals other difficulties. The handling of dangerous reactive products (range of strong acids), the problems of controlling the exact concentration of the bath, and the strongly irritating atmosphere for the operators, all make it a difficult operation to manage. After several years of research, Condat has developed the solution for a simple, efficient and more environmentally friendly surface treatment: VICAFIL TS 7112. This product, in powder form, is simply diluted in a hot water bath and contains mineral salts classified as non-toxic. Just as a borax bath, the mineral salts and organic-polymers of VICAFIL TS 7112 crystallise quickly on the wire creating optimal coverage and a greater deposit weight, thus ensuring better adherence and an excellent distribution of the lubricant during the wiredrawing operation. This results in: • An increase of wire drawing speeds • A reduction of die wear • An excellent quality of the wire surface • A greater homogeneity of the wire’s mechanical properties Better performing than a surface treatment with borax, VICAFIL TS 7112 also presents fewer disadvantages than a phosphate treatment. Easy to handle and without usage of products classified as toxic, it makes it possible to reduce the number or the length of tanks used to carry out such treatments. In addition to these significant gains in equipment investment, VICAFIL TS 7112 also allows a reduction in the treatment and recycling of effluents. VICAFIL TS 7112 offers remarkable results for wire drawing of the most difficult metals and on applications such as steel cord, PC wire, spring and cold heading wire.

The company will be displaying VICAFIL TS 7112 at wire Düsseldorf. Condat Lubricants – France Website : www.condat.fr ▲ ▲ Optimal crystallised coverage with VICAFIL TS 7112, here at 60 times zoom

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Wire 2014 Stand 10C63

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January 2014