Sustainable Lubricants for Electric Vehicle Battery Formation
FUCHS is committed to driving sustainability along the entire supply chain, from our raw materials to our advanced lubrication solutions that solve new design challenges for sustainable technologies. Electric vehicles and other e-mobility applications require these new lubrication solutions for new power sources and components, like electric motors and electric batteries. There are several lubricants required throughout the life cycle of the battery, from the fluids required to form the battery to the immersion coolants used in the end vehicle. FUCHS plays a critical role in the development of batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles by providing the metal forming fluids.
Forming Lubricants
When manufacturing batteries, lubricants are applied to the metal forming die as well as the metal substrate. Lubricants are necessary in metal forming to:
- Reduce friction between moving parts
- Assist with consistent metal flow for high part quality and integrity
- Optimize tool and die life through proper lubrication
- Protect the parts, equipment and tooling against corrosion
- Remove metal particles
- Control temperatures
FUCHS lubricants for battery forming are primarily oily emulsion-based products. These products are typically diluted withwater to 15% use range. The water used should be low in hardness and impurities. We offer products that can be used in a loss lubricant system, where the emulsion is sprayed on the dies or substrate to lubricate during the stamping process and the lubricant travels with the finished part.
FUCHS has established new technology emulsions that can be sprayed or flooded into the dies. The lubricant can be recirculated and re-used, which minimizes costs and promotes sustainability. For these technologies, FUCHS excels with innovative technology that resists microbial growth which can be harmful to workers, clog filters, and impact the overall pH and stability of the lubricant. The products do not contain chlorine or sulfur which makes them safer to use without corroding or leaving a sticky residue on the metal surface. FUCHS offers several products for this application, the most popular being RENOFORM OS 7677 NS
Insufficient lubrication can result in an overheated tool/part interface. When this happens, the metal becomes too malleable, and the walls become too thin. These products have excellent boundary additives that prevent wear on both the tooling and the interior of the battery cans. This protective system provides a draw part with smooth interior walls and reduces thinning of the stretched wall to preserve the integrity of the metal.
| RENOFORM OS 7677 NS | A heavy-duty, chlorine and sulfur-free soluble oil intended for severe drawing and stamping. |
| RENOFORM MBW 677/6 | A water miscible heavy- duty stamping fluid intended for use on ferrous alloys. |
Cleaners
Any residue left by lubricants can be easily cleaned in mild aqueous cleaners such as RENOCLEAN 102 LK6. In battery applications it is critical that any residue be removed from the metal surface so as not to interfere with its conductive properties. RENOCLEAN 102 LK6 has proven successful with Automotive OEMs in the cleaning of battery cells. The cleaner effectively removes water-based, oily emulsion, and oil-based lubricants and leaves microscopic protection against corrosion without interfering with conductivity in the finished battery.
| RENOCLEAN 102 LK6 | An “in-process” cleaner for a wide variety of ferrous and non-ferrous metals. |