How can I clean the lubricant after drawing wire?

It depends on the lubricant, but hexane may work well.

Hi,

Try to use something like this:

GoodLuck

Generally alkaline chemical are used for degreasing purpose & mild Phosphoric acid based chemical are used to remove stearate soaps etc. However, chemicals to be applied depend on contaminants as well as type of wire, application, speed etc. Generally High power Ultrasonic or electro chemical cleaning process /method being used for high quality wire cleaning.

Ultrasonic cleaning is a versatile device used for cleaning for high quality/precision cleaning. The characteristics features of ultrasonic cleaning system is that mechanical energy of high intensity, high frequency sound waves are radiated in the cleaning liquid. This results in buildup & collapses of large number of vacuum bubbles. This phenomenon is called as cavitation, gives better cleaning of the wires.

The terms de-greasing, cleaning, washing etc. are generally used through out industry to describe the various methods of removing soluble films and particular soils from wide range of manufactured, machined and processed articles. The type of cleaning process required is normally determined by the degree of cleanliness required.

In electrochemical cleaning process/method, No. of different partitions/zones are provided & connected to Anode & cathode. When wires travel through different partitions/zones, wires alternately polarized positive & negative. Because of alternative current, chemical reactions will take place on the surface of wires, as the formation of hydrogen or oxygen bubbles, these created bubbles at the surface of the wire will remove the contaminant on the wire. After the chemical cleaning process/operation, water rinsing is necessary, to remove the chemical residuals.

use organic solvent, Acetone or DCM or chloroform. I use to work on epoxy and regularly used methyl ethyl ketone which pretty much dissolves every organi based material.

In case mineral oil is the lubricant being considered, it can be cleaned off most metallic surfaces with xylene. However, due to its considerable toxicity, it seems convenient to prefer solvents generally considered as safer alternatives, namely: pentane, n-hexane, petroleum ether, or ligroin (predominantly constituted by C7 to C11 n-paraffins).

Dear Abdulwahab Benhadji,

My suggestion is to use either hexane or heptane for degreasing, and afterwards acetone or ethyl methyl ketone. The first two dissolve fat, the last two can only rinse it off, but are good to clean other chemical compounds (e.g. for epoxy residues). Wipe off the acetone with a paper towel, to make sure. If the wire should not be touched, rinse and let it dry in an environment with enough fresh air.

I agree acetone should work

I agree to use of acetone or phosphoric acid and wash it after with steam(or hot water)

If length of wire is not a constraint than use ultrasonic bath (acetone or phosphoric acid followed by distilled water) or make a setup followed by your wire drawn set up. 

you can use  acid pickling 

To remove the oil based lubricants, or greases, from metal parts I usually use acetone. Be careful when you use acetone against plastic parts. The plastic is affected by solvents.

If the oil is sublimated, it helps heating and firing

beter one hot press water.

I think it`s better to apply a reheating furnace up to 300 degrees not HCl .

Dear Abdul,

Ultrasonic cleaning using acetone is most important for the cleaning of wire drawing. Manufacturing wire and cable, rods, tapes, tubes and fasteners requires lubrication. Before further processing, such as galvanizing, extrusion or welding, the lubricant residues need to be cleaned off. It offers you a unique cleaning process for efficient inline cleaning.

If the stain is high with lubricant, one can try with mild hot HCl.

Hope it is helpful for you.

Ashish