Metal finishing Q&As since 1989

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High speed degreasing and cleaning of wire

I have installed a new 11 die wet wire drawing machine to draw bright low carbon wires. The input wire is annealed, pickled & lime coated and is drawn down from1.6mm to 0.6mm.& collected on spool 200 kgs.

The calcium based dry powder in the first die and steelgrip wet water solution, leaves a strong adherent coat on the finished wire. For plastic coating or enamel painting, the wire surface should be extremely clean and bright, but the drawing lubes residue on the wire is not easily removable. I tried online solvent(paint thinners) cleaning but the white/grey-ish powder remains on the wire. in fact the powder attracts to magnets. Acid pickling is not suitable since it leaves a slight red rust on the surface. The wire has to be cleaned online prior to preheating and plastic coating.

ESMAIL T. GODHRAWALA
wire drawing & plastic coating - MUMBAI, Maharashtra, INDIA

2004

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First of two simultaneous responses --

You could draw the wire in a sodium based lubricant, and then clean inline with hot water, then water rinse / air wipes.

Colin Steward
- Yorkshire, England
2004

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Second of two simultaneous responses --

Dear Mr EG,

The only way to coat plastic successfully is to zinc phosphate your wire product. There are several companies in Mumbai who make reasonably decent phosphating chemistries who would help you out.

Khozem Vahaanwala
Saify Ind

Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

2004