The use of CALCIUM STEARATE in wire drawing

The tremendous shearing forces incurred when wire is cold drawn through one or a series of dies, have always presented a difficult problem in lubrication. In view of the increased rate of production involving faster travel of the wire through the die, the lubrication and cooling of the wire and die become more difficult of satisfactory solution. It is usual to employ soaps of the alkaline earth metals for this work and of these, calcium stearate is very widely used.