Abstract: Disclosed is a lubricant for use in cold forming of a metal. The lubricant comprises a mixture of at least one lubricating compound and at least one starch. The starch adheres the lubricating compound to the metal surface. The present lubricant completely removes the need to pre-coat the metal with a zinc phosphate coating to adhere the lubricating compound to the metal. The present lubricant eliminates several steps required in processes that utilize zinc phosphate pre-coatings. In addition, the lubricant of the present invention is easily removed after the cold forming operations unlike zinc phosphate coatings.

Abstract: Methods for treating spent reactive soap lubricant baths employed in a cold forming process for metal treatment are described. One method involves treatment of the spent solution with acid to form stearic acid, collection of the stearic acid, and reaction of the stearic acid with a metal salt to form metal stearates. This method is preferably used to prepare sodium stearate. An alternative method involves treatment of a basic (i.e., pH greater than 7 or preferably greater than 10) spent reactive soap lubricant bath with certain metallic stearates, including aluminum stearate, zinc stearate, aluminum stearate, zinc stearate, barium stearate, lithium stearate, and calcium stearate. The metal stearates can be used in conventional lubricant formulations used in the metal forming or metal working industry. Sodium stearate recovered by the present invention is of sufficient purity that it can be reused in reactive soap lubricant baths.