Wire drawing
To make wire, metal rods are drawn through dies of successively decreasing diameter. Lubricant is necessary to reduce the friction between the rod and the dies. Because the lubricant—a drawing soap or grease—does not adhere well to the rod, a lubricant carrier is necessary. The carrier must form a tenacious coating on the rod, to which the lubricant will readily adhere. Either Neobor® or borax decahydrate can be used as an effective lubricant carrier—and can also be used to neutralize residual acid (from the removal of oxides prior to adding the lubricant) and prevent corrosion during storage.
Technical bulletin: Borates in Wire Drawing
Throughout the cleaning, coating, baking, and drawing processes, these borates provide: