What are hot forging lubricants and which one should you choose? ORAFOR and CONDAFORGE

In hot forging, the lubricant is what separates an efficient operation from tooling that wears out fast and parts that come out poorly formed. In this guide we explain what hot forging is, what the lubricant is for in this process, and which lines we carry at NAT MAC: ORAFOR and CONDAFORGE, from the CONDAT brand.

What is hot forging and why does it need lubricant?

Hot forging is a process in which metal is shaped by hammering or pressing it while at high temperature, inside molds called dies. It is the way to make strong parts such as crankshafts, shafts, railway wheels and valve bodies.

At those temperatures, hot metal tends to stick to the dies, wear them down and not fill the shape properly. Forging lubricant solves exactly that: it forms a film between the metal and the tool that reduces friction, protects the dies, helps the metal flow and fill the cavity, and makes it easier to release the part from the die. Without a good lubricant, dies last less and production gets complicated.

What is a hot forging lubricant for?

A good forging lubricant performs four main functions:

The hot forging lubricants we carry

We carry two CONDAT lines for hot and warm forging, both water-based. The main difference is whether or not they contain graphite. This table summarizes them:

ORAFOR: graphite-free synthetic lubricant

ORAFOR is CONDAT's line of water-based synthetic lubricants for hot and warm forging. Being graphite-free, it offers excellent adhesion on hot surfaces with very low residue generation, which means cleaner tooling and a more orderly work environment. It is designed for medium-complexity forging operations that require efficient lubrication, easy tooling cleanup and a stable film at high temperature.

Typical applications: hot forging of steel, warm forging of ferrous metals, manufacturing of valve bodies and railway wheels, upsetting operations, die and mold lubrication, and production lines with automatic spray systems.

CONDAFORGE: graphite lubricant for demanding applications

CONDAFORGE is CONDAT's line of water-based graphite lubricants for hot and warm forging of ferrous and non-ferrous metals. Its high-strength graphite film offers great lubricity and adhesion on hot tooling and promotes uniform metal flow, even in very demanding deformation operations. Thanks to its graphite dispersion technology, it extends the life of dies and matrices, improves part release and reduces lubricant consumption.

Typical applications: hot forging of steel, aluminum and brass forging, hot extrusion, crankshaft manufacturing, automotive component production, precision parts and forging preforms.

ORAFOR or CONDAFORGE? How to choose

The choice depends on how demanding the process is and how clean you want the operation to be:

• If you want maximum cleanliness and work medium-complexity parts, the choice is ORAFOR (graphite-free).
• If you need maximum performance on complex-geometry or highly demanding parts, or if you forge nonferrous metals such as aluminum and brass, the choice is CONDAFORGE (graphite-based).

Why buy your lubricants at NAT MAC?

We are a CONDAT distributor with more than 54 years of experience in the industry and ISO 9001 certified quality. We don't just supply the lubricant: we analyze your forging process and recommend the right line for your operation.

Tell us about your forging process and what parts you produce, and we'll recommend the right line. Request your free quote.

Sources: NAT MAC Lubricants catalog; CONDAT Lubricants; CONDAT, Forging lubricants.