Micro-plasto-hydrodynamic lubrication: a fundamental mechanism in cold rolling

Micro Plasto-Hydrodynamic (MPH) lubrication is a general mechanism in metal forming that consists in a re-lubrication of tool-piece solid contacts by an outflow of lubricant from pressurized “pockets” promoted by the plastic deformation. MPH lubrication is one of the main sources of friction variation (e.g. uncontrolled friction) in metal forming processes like strip drawing or cold rolling. This paper presents experimental results giving evidence of the MPH lubrication mechanism in cold rolling and a new lubrication model that predicts for strip drawing conditions MPH lubrication initiation and lubricant extension along the solid contacts initially in boundary condition. This MPH model could be implemented in a cold rolling model soon to help in high strength steels developments on cold rolling mills.