Novel spraying apparatus to investigate the lubricant deposition on metal sheets at high temperature

The constant demand of increasing performances and safety in automotive industry has led significant innovations in the materials as well as in forming processes. In particular, lightweight aluminium alloys are knowing higher and higher importance, thanks to the development of new stamping processes at high temperatures capable to allow improved formability, low spring-back and accurate micro-structural control in the formed parts. However, the choice of proper process parameters, in terms of lubrication at the interfaces between the dies and the blank, still represents a critical point for the process feasibility. On this basis, the paper aims at presenting a novel spraying apparatus to investigate the deposition of lubricants in hot stamping. The equipment allows the accurate control of the quantity of the lubricant that is deposited on the specimen and of the deposition temperature to maximize the lubricant adhesion. The results show the capability of the new equipment and the good stability of the conditions during testing.