Warm-Forming A1 Lubricant

Abstract

Aluminum, magnesium, and steel can be warm formed through use of a solid, warm forming lubricant which is a metal or metal alloy, or high melting temperature polar polymer. The parts can be painted directly after warm forming.

1 . A process for the warm forming of a metal substrate to form a contoured metal part comprising aluminum, magnesium, or steel, comprising:
 a) supplying a blank of said metal coated with a coating of a solid warm forming lubricant selected from the group consisting of metal(s) and non-fugitive high melting point polar polymers, said coating being substantially continuous before warm forming, or developing a substantially continuous coating during the warm forming process;   b) supplying an at least two part mold having a contour in mating mold parts corresponding to the shape of the contoured metal part;   c) heating the blank to a warm forming temperature and positioning the blank in the mold;   d) closing the mold under pressure to form a warm formed part; and   e) removing the warm formed part from the mold.   
   
   
       2 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the metal substrate comprises aluminum, and the warm forming lubricant comprises one or more metal coating layers, at least one coating layer comprising a metal other than aluminum. 
   
   
       3 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said warm forming lubricant comprises two or more metal coating layers, a first coating layer adjacent the metal substrate and forming an adhesive layer to promote adherence of at least one subsequent layer. 
   
   
       4 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said warm forming lubricant comprises two or more metal coating layers, a first coating layer adjacent the metal substrate and forming a barrier layer to diffusion of a second metal layer into the substrate metal. 
   
   
       5 . The process of  claim 4 , wherein the metal substrate comprises aluminum, the barrier layer comprises copper, and at least one subsequent layer comprises tin. 
   
   
       6 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate metal comprises magnesium. 
   
   
       7 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein prior to coating the metal substrate with said warm forming lubricant, the substrate surface is oxidized to form a coherent metal oxide layer. 
   
   
       8 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the warm forming lubricant softens or melts at or below the warm forming temperature. 
   
   
       9 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the warm forming lubricant has a melting point at least 10° C. above the warm forming temperature. 
   
   
       10 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising removing said warm formed part from the mold, washing the part with an aqueous degreaser solution comprising at least one surfactant, rinsing the part with water, drying, and painting the part. 
   
   
       11 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising painting the part without any intermediate washing step. 
   
   
       12 . The process of  claim 10 , further comprising removing an oxide layer from the part by blasting. 
   
   
       13 . The process of  claim 11 , wherein said blasting comprises soda blasting or nut shell blasting.