STRETCHING METAL'S FORMING LIMITS WITH HSP LUBRICANTS -FORMING ALUMINUM, HIGH-STRENGTH STEEL
July 2003 - The trend in metal stamping is to use more and more aluminum and other lightweight materials, such as advanced high strength steel (AHSS). The need for technology to help improve metal flow of these materials in deep-drawing applications also is increasing. In many cases, a stamper’s original tooling was designed and built to produce steel parts. A switch to softer material such as aluminum or stiffer material such as highstrength steel causes a significant increase in draw failure, demand on the tool, and the potential for parts that do not meet specifications. Ideally, the tooling should be modified to accommodate the forming and stretching characteristics of these new materials, but the expenditure is not always in the budget.