Lubricant composition and use

Abstract

The present invention provides a lubricant composition which can be washed off cold and the use thereof for application to a metal strip as anti-corrosion, wash and/or forming lubricant. The composition is 50 to 90 wt % base fluid, 3 to 15 wt % sulfonate-based corrosion inhibitor, 1 to 20 wt % ester component, 0.5 to 3 wt % phosphorus source component or 1 to 10 wt % sulfur source component as high-pressure/anti-wear additive, 1 to 15 wt % emulsifier, 0.05 to 1 wt % carboxylic acid component, 0.05 to 1 wt % aminic and/or phenolic antioxidant, 0.5 to 5 wt % wax and/or thickener component, based in each case on the total weight of the composition. Further disclosed is a dry lubricant composition which can be washed off cold.

Claims

1. A lubricant composition that can be washed off cold for application on a metal strip as a corrosion protection, washing and/or forming lubricant, the lubricant composition comprising: 50 wt % to 90 wt % base fluid, relative to the total weight of the lubricant composition, wherein the base fluid is a mixture of at least two base oils differing in their kinematic viscosity at 40 C., wherein the at least two base oils are selected from group I base oils and group II base oils with a kinematic viscosity at 40 C. of 3 mm.sup.2/s to 700 mm.sup.2/s, wherein group III base oils and group IV base oils are not excluded; 3 wt % to 15 wt % sulfonate-based corrosion inhibitor, relative to the total weight of the lubricant composition; 1 wt % to 20 wt % ester component, relative to the total weight of the lubricant composition; 0.5 wt % to 3 wt % phosphorus carrier component, relative to the total weight of the lubricant composition, or 1 wt % to 10 wt % sulfur carrier component, relative to the total weight of the lubricant composition, as an extreme-pressure/anti-wear additive, wherein: the phosphorus carrier component is selected from the group consisting of dialkyl hydrogenphosphite, wherein each alkyl residue of the dialkyl hydrogenphosphite is saturated or unsaturated and comprises 14 to 22 C atoms; oleyl alcohol ethoxylate phosphate; dimethyl octadecenyl phosphonate; and triaryl thiophosphate; and the sulfur carrier component is selected from the group consisting of sulfurized hydrocarbon, sulfur-polymer from lard oil, overbased Na thiophosphonate, S ester, S ester of oleic acid methylester, aminodialkyl dithiophosphate, and ethylhexyl Zn dithiophosphate; 1 wt % to 15 wt % emulsifier, relative to the total weight of the lubricant composition, wherein the emulsifier is selected from non-ionic surfactants, anionic surfactants, or a mixture of non-ionic surfactants and/or anionic surfactants; 0.05 wt % to 1 wt % carboxylic acid component, relative to the total weight of the lubricant composition, wherein the carboxylic acid component is selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acids with 16 to 22 C atoms; dimer acids that are dicarboxylic acids produced by dimerization of unsaturated fatty acids of tall oil; and mixtures thereof; 0.05 wt % to 1 wt % antioxidant, relative to the total weight of the lubricant composition, wherein the antioxidant is selected from the group consisting of aminic antioxidant; phenolic antioxidant; and a mixture of aminic antioxidant and phenolic antioxidant; 0.5 wt % to 5 wt % wax and/or thickener component, relative to the total weight of the lubricant composition, wherein the wax and/or the thickener component is selected from the group consisting of paraffinic waxes; castor oil derivatives; fatty acid derivatives that are fatty acid esters or fatty acid amides of saturated and unsaturated C16-20 fatty acids; and polymeric thickeners.

2. The lubricant composition according to claim 1, comprising 55 wt % to 80 wt % of the base fluid relative to the total weight of the lubricant composition, wherein the kinematic viscosity at 40 C. of the lubricant composition is adjustable in a range of 5 mm.sup.2/s to 300 mm.sup.2/s by selection of the at least two base oils, wherein the kinematic viscosity at 40 C. is adjusted in a range of 5 mm.sup.2/s to 25 mm.sup.2/s for washing lubricants; in a range of 20 mm.sup.2/s to 120 mm.sup.2/s for rolling mill-applied corrosion lubricants or pre-lubes; and in a range of 60 mm.sup.2/s to 300 mm.sup.2/s for forming lubricants.

3. The lubricant composition according to claim 1, wherein, for a corrosion protection lubricant, the at least two base oils include a first base oil with the kinematic viscosity at 40 C. of 700 mm.sup.2/s and a second base oil with the kinematic viscosity at C. of 40 mm.sup.2/s, wherein a weight ratio of the first base oil to the second base oil in the base fluid amounts to 3:1 to 4:1 and the kinematic viscosity at 40 C. amounts to 10010 mm.sup.2/s.

4. The lubricant composition according to claim 1, wherein the sulfonate-based corrosion inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of overbased and neutral Ca sulfonates; overbased and neutral Na sulfonates; and mixtures thereof.

5. The lubricant composition according to claim 4, wherein the lubricant composition comprises: 0.5 wt % to 5 wt % of the overbased Na sulfonate, and/or 2 wt % to 10 wt % of the overbased Ca sulfonate, and further comprises optionally 1 wt % to 5 wt % of the neutral Ca sulfonate, and/or 1 wt % to 5 wt % of the neutral Na sulfonate, provided that a sum of weight proportions of the sulfonate-based corrosion inhibitors makes up 3 wt % to 15 wt % of the total weight of the lubricant composition.

6. The lubricant composition according to claim 4, wherein the lubricant composition comprises 1 wt % to 5 wt % of the overbased Na sulfonate and further comprises 3 wt % to 5 wt % of the overbased Ca sulfonate, relative to the total weight of the lubricant composition, respectively.

7. The lubricant composition according to claim 4, wherein the lubricant composition comprises: 1 wt % to 5 wt % of the overbased Na sulfonate, 3 wt % to 5 wt % of the overbased Ca sultanate, and 1 wt % to 5 wt % of the neutral Ca sulfonate, relative to the total weight of the lubricant composition, respectively.

8. The lubricant composition according to claim 4, wherein the lubricant composition comprises 3 wt % to 6 wt % of the overbased Na sulfonate relative to the total weight of the lubricant composition.

9. The lubricant composition according to claim 4, wherein the lubricant composition comprises 3 wt % to 10 wt % of the overbased Ca sulfonate relative to the total weight of the lubricant composition.

10. The lubricant composition according to claim 1, wherein the lubricant composition further comprises 0.05 wt % to 1.7 wt % of at least one further inhibitor component, relative to the total weight of the lubricant composition, wherein the at least one further inhibitor component is selected from the group consisting of triazoles and amines.

11. The lubricant composition according to claim 10, wherein the at least one further inhibitor component comprises 0.05 wt % to 0.2 wt % of the triazoles and/or 0.1 to 1.5 wt % of the amines.

12. The lubricant composition according to claim 10, wherein the at least one further inhibitor component comprises 0.1 wt % of the triazole that is benzotriazole or a benzotriazole derivative and/or 0.1 wt % to 1.5 wt % of the amine that is trialkanolamines.

13. The lubricant composition according to claim 1, wherein the ester component comprises 10 wt % to 20 wt % fatty acid esters or 1 wt % to 5 wt % wool fat esters, relative to the total weight of the lubricant composition, respectively.

14. The lubricant composition according to claim 1, wherein the lubricant composition comprises 2 wt % of the phosphorus carrier component, relative to the total weight of the lubricant composition, as the extreme-pressure/anti-wear additive, wherein the phosphorus carrier component is dialkyl hydrogenphosphite, wherein each alkyl residue of the dialkyl hydrogenphosphite comprises 14 to 22 C atoms.

15. The lubricant composition according to claim 1, wherein: the non-ionic surfactants are selected from fatty alcohol alkoxylates and mixtures thereof, wherein the fatty alcohol alkoxylates are based on fatty alcohols with 16 to 18 C atoms and comprise a degree of ethoxylation of 2 to 5 moles, and the anionic surfactants are selected from the group consisting of alkylether carboxylic acids and phosphoric acid esters, wherein a proportion of each one of the non-ionic surfactants and the anionic surfactants, alone or in the mixture, amounts to 1 wt % to 5 wt %, respectively, relative to the total weight of the lubricant composition, provided that a total amount of the emulsifier does not surpass 15 wt % relative to the total weight of the lubricant composition.

16. The lubricant composition according to claim 15, wherein the alkylether carboxylic acids are C.sub.14-22 fatty alcohol polyglycol ether carboxylic acids and wherein the phosphoric acid esters are alkoxylated fatty alcohol phosphate esters of fatty alcohols with 16 to 18 C atoms and a degree of ethoxylation of 5 moles.

17. The lubricant composition according to claim 15, wherein the lubricant composition comprises 7.5 wt % of the fatty alcohol alkoxylates as the emulsifier relative to the total weight of the lubricant composition.

18. The lubricant composition according to claim 17, wherein the fatty alcohol alkoxylate is comprised of 5 wt % C.sub.16-18 fatty alcohol with a degree of ethoxylation of 5 moles and 2.5 wt % C.sub.16-18 fatty alcohol with a degree of ethoxylation of 2 moles.

19. The lubricant composition according to claim 1, wherein the carboxylic acid with 16 to 22 C atoms is tall oil fatty acid, oleic acid, or behenic acid.

20. The lubricant composition according to claim 19, wherein the lubricant composition comprises 0.5 wt % of the tall oil fatty acid relative to the total weight of the lubricant composition.

21. The lubricant composition according to claim 1, wherein the aminic antioxidant is a reaction product of N-phenyl benzenamine with 2,4,4-trimethyl pentene, wherein the phenolic antioxidant is selected from octyl-3,5-di-tert-butyl-4- hydroxyhydrocinnamate and/or octadecyl-3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate, wherein the lubricant composition comprises 0.25 wt % of the aminic antioxidant and 0.25 wt % of the phenolic antioxidant, relative to the total weight of the lubricant composition, respectively.

22. The lubricant composition according to claim 1, wherein the wax and/or thickener component is selected from paraffinic waxes and/or castor oil derivatives in the form of thixotropic thickeners based on hydrogenated castor oil.

23. The lubricant composition according to claim 22, wherein the lubricant composition comprise 3 wt % of the paraffinic wax with a solidification point at 64 C. to 66 C.

24. A dry lubricant composition that can be washed off cold for application on a metal strip as corrosion protection lubricant or pre-lube, the lubricant composition comprising: wt % to 90 wt % wax component, relative to the total weight of the lubricant composition, wherein the wax component has a melting range of 35 C. to 75 C. and is selected from the group consisting of polyalkylene glycol, polyalkylene glycol ester, ester, ester ethoxylate, a carboxylic acid ethoxylate, ether carboxylic acid and alkaline and alkaline earth soaps thereof, glycerin fatty acid ester, polyol esters and ethoxylates thereof, sorbitol esters and ethoxylates thereof, alcohols and ethoxylates thereof, fatty alcohols and ethoxylates thereof, paraffinic waxes, castor oil derivatives, fatty acid derivatives selected from fatty acid esters or fatty acid amides of saturated and unsaturated C 16-20 fatty acids; 3 wt % to 15 wt % sulfonate-based corrosion inhibitor, relative to the total weight of the lubricant composition; 0.05 wt % to 1.7 wt % of at least one further inhibitor component, relative to the total weight of the lubricant composition, wherein the at least one further inhibitor component selected from the group consisting of triazoles, benzotriazole, benzotriazole derivatives, and amines; 0.5 wt % to 3 wt % phosphorus carrier component, relative to the total weight of the lubricant composition, or 1 to 10 wt % sulfur carrier component, relative to the total weight of the lubricant composition, as an extreme-pressure/anti-wear additive, wherein: the phosphorus carrier component is selected from the group consisting of dialkyl hydrogenphosphite, wherein each alkyl residue of the dialkyl hydrogenphosphite is saturated or unsaturated and comprises 14 to 22 C atoms; oleyl alcohol ethoxylate phosphate; dimethyl octadecenyl phosphonate; and triaryl thiophosphate; and the sulfur carrier component is selected from the group consisting of sulfurized hydrocarbon, sulfur-polymer from lard oil, overbased Na thiophosphonate, S ester, S ester of oleic acid methylester, aminodialkyl dithiophosphate, ethylhexyl Zn dithiophosphate; 0 wt % to 15 wt % emulsifier, relative to the total weight of the lubricant composition, the emulsifier selected from non-ionic surfactants or anionic surfactants or a mixture of non-ionic surfactants and/or anionic surfactants, wherein the emulsifier can be omitted when the wax component comprises a sorbitan ester ethoxylate selected from sorbitan tristearate ethoxylate and sorbitan monostearate ethoxylate; 0.05 wt % to 1 wt % carboxylic acid component, relative to the total weight of the lubricant composition, the carboxylic acid component selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acids with 16 to 22 C atoms; dimer acids that are dicarboxylic acids produced by dimerization of unsaturated fatty acids from tall oil; or mixtures thereof; 0.05 wt % to 1 wt % antioxidant, relative to the total weight of the lubricant composition, wherein the antioxidant is selected from the group consisting of aminic antioxidant; phenolic antioxidant; and a mixture of aminic antioxidant and phenolic antioxidant; wherein the lubricant composition, depending on the proportion of the wax component, comprises a base fluid as a supplement to a total of 100 wt % of the lubricant composition, wherein the base fluid is a mixture of at least two base oils differing in their kinematic viscosity at 40 C., wherein the at least two base oils are selected from group I base oils and group II base oils with a kinematic viscosity at 40 C. of 3 mm.sup.2/s to 700 mm.sup.2/s, wherein group III base oils and group IV base oils are not excluded.

25. A method of using a lubricant composition according to claim 1 on a metal strip as corrosion protection, washing and/or forming lubricant, the method comprising: applying the lubricant composition according to claim 1 to the metal strip to form a film on the metal strip; washing off cold at a temperature below 50 C. the lubricant composition from the metal strip with an alkaline aqueous cleaner.

26. The method according to claim 25, comprising adjusting a surfactant concentration of the alkaline aqueous cleaner to a content of the emulsifier in the lubricant composition by refurbishing a surfactant component of the aqueous alkaline cleaner in a reduced quantity during washing off of the metal strip according to a quantity of the emulsifier of the lubricant composition introduced into the aqueous alkaline cleaner.

27. A method of using a lubricant composition according to claim 24 on a metal strip as corrosion protection, washing and/or forming lubricant, the method comprising: applying the lubricant composition according to claim 24 to the metal strip to form a film on the metal strip; washing off cold at a temperature below 50 C. the lubricant composition from the metal strip with an alkaline aqueous cleaner.

28. The method according to claim 27, comprising adjusting a surfactant concentration of the alkaline aqueous cleaner to a content of the emulsifier of the lubricant composition by refurbishing a surfactant component of the aqueous alkaline cleaner in a reduced quantity during washing off of the metal strip according to a quantity of the emulsifier of the lubricant composition introduced into the aqueous alkaline cleaner.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further embodiments as well as some of the advantages that are associated with these and further embodiments will become clear and better understood based on the following detailed description with reference to the Figures. It is shown in:

(2) FIG. 1 a photographic representation of a test sheet that has been coated with a lubricant composition according to the invention, after completion of cleaning at 25 C.;

(3) FIG. 2 a photographic representation of a test sheet that has been coated with an alternative lubricant composition according to the invention, after completion of cleaning at 25 C.;

(4) FIG. 3 a photographic representation of a test sheet that has been coated with a further alternative lubricant composition according to the invention, after completion of cleaning at 25 C.;

(5) FIG. 4 a photographic representation of a test sheet that has been coated with yet another alternative lubricant composition according to the invention, after completion of cleaning at 25 C.;

(6) FIG. 5 a photographic representation of a test sheet that has been coated with a lubricant composition of the prior art, after completion of cleaning at 25 C.;

(7) FIG. 6 a comparative illustration of the representations of the test sheet that has been coated with a lubricant composition of the prior art (left) and a test sheet that has been coated with a lubricant composition according to the invention (right).

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(8) The lubricant composition according to the invention relates to a product range of corrosion protection oils and forming lubricants as well as washing oils, primarily in the automotive body-in-white process. The latter begins with the application of the corrosion protection oil or pre-lube on the metal sheet in the steel mill or aluminum plant and ends with application of the base coat by means of cathodic dip coating (CDC). Depending on the target product, pre-lube or corrosion protection oil, washing oil, and drawing oil are used in this context. Prior to CDC, all oils are removed by an alkaline aqueous cleaner system for which purpose up to now a temperature of approximately 55 C. is required.

(9) When lubricant compositions according to the invention are used as pre-lube or corrosion protection oil, washing oil, and drawing oil, they can be removed completely even at low cleaning temperatures from the metal sheet (example: automotive body in white) so that costs and energy due to heating of the cleaner baths are saved.

(10) The emulsifiers that are used in the lubricant composition according to the invention as cleaning-active components do not interfere in this context with the main properties of the oilsdepending on the product type these are corrosion protection, lubricating and/or washing actionin particular when using non-ionic surfactants. Moreover, the employed emulsifiers fulfill the demands in regard to compatibility with the subsequent processing steps (inter alia gluing of the body in white; welding; cathodic dip coating).

(11) Furthermore, the lubricant composition according to the invention fulfills the requirements with regard to application capability in steel mills or aluminum plants. A common application type is electrostatic spraying; but also other application work, for example, conventional spraying can be employed. Compositions that are suitable for this exhibit a kinematic viscosity at 40 C. in the range of 20 to 120 mm.sup.2/s. For spraying, a light heating to 50 to 60 C. for complete dissolving of the contained wax/thickener may be required. For other application forms, for example, by means of roll coater or similar coating devices or when the composition is designed as a washing or forming or drawing oil, the composition can also be adjusted in a different viscosity range and heating is not required for application. Optionally, a lubricant composition according to the invention can also be applied as an aqueous dispersion. Usually, the application of forming oils is done by spraying or less frequently by roll coater. On the other hand, felt, squeezing and/or rubber rolls are employed for application of washing oils.

(12) With a suitably adjusted viscosity, the composition according to the invention can be applied as a uniform thin layer on the metal strip as a corrosion lubricant or pre-lube in the range of 0.5 to 2.5 m, preferably approximately 1 m; as forming lubricant in the range of 1 to 10 m, preferably approximately 2 m; and as washing lubricant in the range of 1 to 5 m, preferably 0.5 to 1 m, and does not run off due to the contained waxes/thickeners. A total thickness of the layer formed of different compositions is preferably in the range of 1 to 5 m, particularly preferred amounts to approximately 2 m. Accordingly, the composition according to the invention not only provides corrosion protection for steel as well as aluminum during storage and transport but also acts as a lubricant during forming. The joining methods such as welding, gluing, crimping or clinching following the forming action can be performed without cleaning, i.e., with adhering lubricant composition that is thus compatible with most or all well-established body-in-white adhesives, such as high-strength construction adhesives or sealing adhesives.

(13) Prior to phosphatization and painting, the lubricant composition is removed by means of an alkaline aqueous cleaner in a dip/spray bath. Complete removal is important in order to avoid flaws in the paint coat due to lubricant residues.

(14) Due to the lubricant composition removed from the sheet metal parts to be cleaned the emulsifiers contained in the lubricant composition are transferred into the cleaning bath and increase thus the concentration of surfactants or emulsifiers therein because the cleaning baths are recycled and recirculated. Since an increase of these components without a corresponding consideration in the cleaning process would lead to disruptions, the emulsifier quantity that is introduced by the corrosion protection and processing oils must be taken into account when dosing the cleaning baths in that the surfactant component must be correspondingly refurbished in lesser amounts.

(15) Table 1 shows a particularly preferred lubricant composition that comprises a kinematic viscosity at 40 C. of 100 mm.sup.2/s.

(16) TABLE-US-00001 wt % component example 66.4 base fluid 52.2 group I base oil, kin. viscosity PIONIER 4529 (H & R KG, Hamburg, (40 C.) = 700 mm.sup.2/s DE) 14.2 group II base oil, kin. viscosity Chevron Neutral Oil 220 R (Chevron, (40 C.) = 40 mm.sup.2/s Gent, Belgium) 5 sulfonate component 1.5 overbased Na sulfonate Lubrizol 5318A (Lubrizol Company, Wickliffe, Ohio, USA) 3.5 overbased Ca sulfonate Calcinate OR (Chemtura Corp. Petroleum Additives, Middlebury, CT, USA) 0.1 inhibitor component benzotriazole 15 ester component Metalest-EHP 99 (FACI Metalest, saturated fatty acid ester, Zaragoza, Spain)/Radia 7780 (Oleon 2-ethylhexyl palmitate GmbH, Wiesbaden, DE) 2 phosphorus carrier component Doverphos 253 (Dover Chemical dioleyl hydrogenphosphite Corp., Dover, Ohio, USA) 7.5 emulsifier 5 non-ionic surfactant, fatty Emulsogen M (Clariant, Muttenz, alcohol ethoxylate, 5 moles Switzerland) Rhodasurf CET 5 (Rhodia Novecare, Courbevoie, France) 2.5 non-ionic surfactant, fatty Rhodasurf CET 2 (Rhodia Novecare, alcohol ethoxylate, 2 moles Courbevoie, France) 0.5 carboxylic acid component Tall oil fatty acid for2 (Forchem Oy, Rauma, Finland) 0.25 aminic antioxidant Irganox L57 (Ciba Spezialittenchemie, Basel, Switzerland) 0.25 phenolic antioxidant Irganox L135 (Ciba Spezialittenchemie, Basel, Schweiz) 3 wax component HR 64-66 (H & R KG, Hamburg, DE) paraffinic waxes, solidification point 64-66 C.

(17) Alternative compositions vary primarily with regard to the sulfonate concept that is used as a corrosion inhibitor. To a lesser degree, also the base oil mixture that forms the base fluid can vary in order to adjust the viscosity in the desired range.

(18) While the first particularly preferred lubricant composition comprises only overbased Na and Ca sulfonates, in an alternative composition overbased and neutral sulfonates can be contained:

(19) Table 2 shows base fluid and sulfonate component of an alternative lubricant composition, the further components correspond to Table 1.

(20) TABLE-US-00002 wt % component example 63.4 base fluid 49.2 group I base oil, kin. viscosity PIONIER 4529 (H & R KG, Hamburg, (40 C.) = 700 mm.sup.2/s DE) 14.2 group II base oil, kin. Chevron Neutral Oil 220 R (Chevron, viscosity (40 C.) = 40 mm.sup.2/s Gent, Belgium) 8 sulfonate component 1.5 overbased Na sulfonate Lubrizol 5318A (Lubrizol Co, Wickliffe, Ohio, USA) 3.5 overbased Ca sulfonate Calcinate OR (Chemtura Corp. Petroleum Additives, Middlebury, CT, USA) 3 neutral Ca sulfonate Arcot 626F (PCAS, Longjumeau, France)

(21) Tables 3 and 4 show further alternative compositions that each contain only overbased Na sulfonate or only overbased Ca sulfonate. Here, the other components correspond also to those in Table 1.

(22) TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 wt % component example 66.8 base fluid 52.6 group I base oil, kin. PIONIER 4529 (H & R KG, viscosity (40 C.) = 700 mm.sup.2/s Hamburg, DE) 14.2 group II base oil, kin. Chevron Neutral Oil 220 R viscosity (40 C.) = 40 mm.sup.2/s (Chevron, 9052 Gent, Belgium) 4.6 overbased Na sulfonate Lubrizol 5318A (Lubrizol Co, Wickliffe, Ohio, USA)

(23) TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 wt % component example 66.2 base fluid 52 group I base oil, kin. viscosity PIONIER 4529 (H & R KG, (40 C.) = 700 mm.sup.2/s Hamburg, DE) 14.2 group II base oil, kin. viscosity Chevron Neutral Oil 220 R (40 C.) = 40 mm.sup.2/s (Chevron, Gent, Belgium) 5.2 overbased Ca sulfonate Calcinate OR (Chemtura Corp. Petroleum Additives, Middlebury, CT, USA)

(24) It is emphasized that the composition according to the invention is not to be limited to the particularly preferred compositions which are provided as examples.

(25) It is obvious to a person of skill in the art that the composition can be changed within the claim ranges in order to modify certain properties of the composition. Also, alternatives the aforementioned components and examples within the claimed scope are readily conceivable.

(26) For example, instead of the two base oils which are listed in Tables 1 to 4, which form the base fluid, also other group I and group II oils are conceivable which may have deviating kinematic viscositiesin particular when the kinematic viscosity (40 C.) of the composition is to be adjusted in deviation from the above 100 mm.sup.2/s within the claimed range of 8 to 200 mm.sup.2/s.

(27) Table 5 discloses further base oils which may be used in a composition according to the invention for forming the base fluid with the desired viscosity:

(28) TABLE-US-00005 base oil kinematic viscosity (40 C.) example naphthenic kV40 = 7.6 mm.sup.2/s NS 8 (Nynas, Stockholm, Sweden) naphthenic kV40 = 8 mm.sup.2/s T9 (Nynas, Stockholm, Sweden)/GADUS NH 8/40 (Shell, Den Haag, The Netherlands) group I kV40 = 114 mm.sup.2/s SN 600 (Shamrock, Limassol, Cyprus) group I kV40 = 500 mm.sup.2/s BRIGHTSTOCK 460 (Total Lubrifiants, LeHavre, France) group II kV40 = 102 mm.sup.2/s CHEVRON NEUTRAL 600 R (Chevron, Gent, Belgium) group II kV40 = 3.5 mm.sup.2/s Base Oil PL 35 (Fa. Petro Canada, Calgary/Canada)

(29) With regard to the sulfonate component, also Calcinate OTS (Chemtura Corp. Petroleum Additives, Middlebury, Conn., USA) can be used as an overbased Ca sulfonate. As a neutral Na sulfonate, for example, Petronate H (Sonneborn, Amsterdam, The Netherlands) can be used.

(30) Aside from benzotriazole, water-soluble benzene derivatives, e.g. Irgamet 42 (Ciba SpezialMtenchemie, Basel, Switzerland), or triethanolamine can be employed as inhibitor components within the claimed boundaries.

(31) Table 6 provides further alternative suitable ester components:

(32) TABLE-US-00006 fatty acid ester FA ester saturated, TMP, PRIOLUBE 1968 (Croda, branched Nettetal, DE) fatty acid ester FA ester saturated, PRIOLUBE 3970 (Croda, TMP C8-10 Nettetal, DE) fatty acid ester NPG diisostearate PRIOLUBE 1973 (Croda, Nettetal, DE) fatty acid ester TMPO RADIALUBE 7364 (Oleon GmbH, Wiesbaden, DE) fatty acid ester triglyceride C8-C10 RADIAMULS MCT 2106 (Oleon GmbH, Wiesbaden, DE) fatty acid ester HC, butyl ester Alphanox 2015 (alpha Chemie, Freital, DE) wool fat ester wool fat ester (PE) Ewasol EPS 24 (H. Erhard Wagner GmbH, Bremen, DE) wool fat ester wool fat ester Ewasol LY10 (H. Erhard Wagner GmbH, Bremen, DE)

(33) Table 7 lists further alternative EP/AW components:

(34) TABLE-US-00007 phosphorus oleyl alcohol ethoxylate Rhodafac PA 35 (Rhodia carrier phosphate Novecare, Courbevoie, France) phosphorus dimethyl octadecenyl Duraphos 100 (Rhodia carrier phosphonate Novecare, Courbevoie, France) phosphorus triaryl thiophosphate Irgalube TPPT (Ciba carrier Spezialittenchemie, Basel, Switzerland) sulfur carrier sulfurized hydrocarbon TPS 20 (Arkema Inc., King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, USA) sulfur carrier sulfur polymer from lard oil Additin RC 8000 (Rhein- Chemie Additives, Mannheim, DE) sulfur carrier overbased Na thiophosphonate Roscan 491 (PCAS, Longjumeau, France) sulfur carrier S ester Additin RC 2415 (Rhein- Chemie Additives, Mannheim, DE) sulfur carrier S ester (oleic acid methylester) Additin RC 2411 (Rhein- Chemie Additives, Mannheim, DE) sulfur carrier aminodialkyl dithiophosphate Additin RC 3880 (Rhein- Chemie Additives, Mannheim, DE) sulfur carrier ethylhexyl Zn dithiophosphate Additin RC 3080 (Rhein- Chemie Additives, Mannheim, DE)

(35) In addition to the preferred non-ionic surfactants, also anionic surfactants such as alkyl ether carboxylic acid, e.g. Akypo RCP 105 (Kao Chemicals Europe, Barcelona, Spain) or phosphate esters such as Rhodafac PA 35 (Rhodia Novecare, Courbevoie, France) can be used.

(36) Also, pure oleic acid, dimer acid (e.g. Pripol 1022, (Croda, Nettetal, DE)) or behenic acid (Prifrac 2989 (Croda, Nettetal, DE)) are conceivable as carboxylic acids.

(37) Alternative phenolic antioxidants are e.g. butylated hydroxytoluene or Irganox L 107 (BASF, Ludwigshafen, DE).

(38) Alternative waxes or thickeners for adjusting the viscosity/rheology of the composition can be selected from Table 8:

(39) TABLE-US-00008 paraffinic waxes solidification point Sasolwax 6072 Sasol, 63 C. Hamburg, DE) castor oil derivative castor oil derivative LUVOTIX R (Lehmann &Voss&Co. KG, Hamburg, DE) castor oil derivative hydrogenated castor oil Albothix 82-32 derivative, micronized (Alberdingk Boley GmbH, Krefeld, DE) fatty acids and methyl NORACID 1115 derivatives 12-hydroxystearate (Nordmann Rassmann GmbH, Hamburg, DE) fatty acids and octadecyl stearate, stearyl derivatives stearate fatty acid amide refined oleic acid amides Crodamide OR (Croda, Nettetal, DE) block polymer PS-PE/PB-PS (30% PS) KRATON G1650 EU type ABA (Kraton Polymers, Frankfurt a.M., DE) PMA polymethacrylate in Viscoplex 1-360 mineral oil (Evonik, Essen, DE) PIB polyisobutylene 1300

(40) The removal of the corrosion protection, washing and/or forming lubricants for metal sheets in the automotive body-in-white process has been performed up to now mostly by alkaline aqueous media at a cleaning temperature of 55 C. The lubricant composition according to the invention is capable of achieving the complete removal even for an unheated cleaner system. Due to the process conditions and the introduced energy by pumping it is to be expected that a temperature slightly above room temperature will be adjusted. The cleaning tests that are described in the following for four exemplary compositions according to the invention and a comparative composition of the prior art were performed at 25 C. in the laboratory.

(41) For the release procedure of corrosion protection and forming oils applied in the steel mill and in the pressing plant, the VDA (German Association of the Automotive Industry) test sheet 230-213 (2008) is usually employed. The method Examination of Removability (Washability) described therein in Chapter 5.10 with the VDA model cleaner is considered conclusive for the results in practice.

(42) In this test method, an oiled sample metal sheet is introduced into a predetermined test bath container with a content of 18 liters and predetermined volume flow of 17 liters/min. After lapse of a predetermined test time, the metal sheet is removed and rinsed for 30 with defined shearing movement in a fresh water tank.

(43) Immediately after removal from the fresh water tank, wetting of the metal sheet is evaluated. A water film closed across the entire metal sheet corresponds to the complete removability of the lubricant.

(44) For the tests described in the following, a cleaning temperature of 25 C.1 C. and 3 min cleaning duration were adjusted and, in accordance with the prior art, the oil film thickness or weight applied on the respective test sheet was set to 1.30.2 g/m.sup.2. As test sheets, precut test sheets (0.8102152 mm; DC 04, type R-46, steel dull matt finish) of the company Q-Panel, Saarbrcken, were employed without further pretreatment. The cleaner system comprised test cleaner VDA 230-213 salt structure (of the company Henkel, Heidelberg) and surfactant (also Henkel, Heidelberg). A temperature of 202 C. and 30 s rinsing duration were adjusted for the cold rinse bath.

(45) The application of the lubricant compositions according to the invention and of the comparative composition was done by dipping the test sheets in a corresponding n-heptane solution of the respective composition. After complete evaporation of the solvent, the required film weight was obtained.

(46) Table 9 shows a composition according to the invention according to variant V 1.

(47) TABLE-US-00009 Variant V1 Ca + Na overbased CHEVRON NEUTRAL OIL 220R 14.2 PIONIER 4529 52.2 tall oil fatty acid FOR 2 0.5 wax HR 64-66 3 Emulsogen M, Rhodasurf CET 5 5 Rhodasurf CET 2 2.5 Arcot 626 F Lubrizol 5318 A 1.5 Calcinate OR 3.5 Irganox L 57 0.25 Irganox L135 0.25 BTA needles (benzotriazole) 0.1 Doverphos 253 2 METALEST-EHP/RADIA 7780 (2-ethylhexyl palmitate) 15 Sum % 100

(48) Table 10 shows a composition according to the invention according to variant V 2:

(49) TABLE-US-00010 Variant V2 Ca + Na overbased + neutral CHEVRON NEUTRAL OIL 220R 14.2 PIONIER 4529 49.2 tall oil fatty acid FOR 2 0.5 wax HR 64-66 3 Emulsogen M, Rhodasurf CET 5 5 Rhodasurf CET 2 2.5 Arcot 626 F 3 Lubrizol 5318 A 1.5 Calcinate OR 3.5 Irganox L 57 0.25 Irganox L135 0.25 BTA needles (benzotriazole) 0.1 Doverphos 253 2 METALEST-EHP/RADIA 7780 (2-ethylhexyl palmitate) 15 Sum % 100

(50) Table 11 shows a composition according to the invention according to variant V 3:

(51) TABLE-US-00011 Variant V3 Na overbased CHEVRON NEUTRAL OIL 220R 14.2 PIONIER 4529 52.6 tall oil fatty acid FOR 2 0.5 wax HR 64-66 3 Emulsogen M, Rhodasurf CET 5 5 Rhodasurf CET 2 2.5 Arcot 626 F Lubrizol 5318 A 4.6 Calcinate OR Irganox L 57 0.25 Irganox L135 0.25 BTA needles (benzotriazole) 0.1 Doverphos 253 2 METALEST-EHP/RADIA 7780 (2-ethylhexyl palmitate) 15 Sum % 100

(52) Table 12 shows a composition according to the invention according to variant V 4:

(53) TABLE-US-00012 Variant V4 Ca overbased CHEVRON NEUTRAL OIL 220R 14.2 PIONIER 4529 52 tall oil fatty acid FOR 2 0.5 wax HR 64-66 3 Emulsogen M, Rhodasurf CET 5 5 Rhodasurf CET 2 2.5 Arcot 626 F Lubrizol 5318 A Calcinate OR 5.2 Irganox L 57 0.25 Irganox L135 0.25 BTA needles (benzotriazole) 0.1 Doverphos 253 2 METALEST-EHP/RADIA 7780 (2-ethylhexyl palmitate) 15 Sum % 100

(54) As a comparative composition according to the prior art, Anticorit PL 3802 39 S of the company Fuchs Schmierstoffe GmbH, Mannheim, Germany, was selected. The product Anticorit PL 3802-39 S used for comparison represents the current art of corrosion protection oils with forming properties (the so-called pre-lubes). It has been widely used since 1996 in the steel industry, in particular for automotive steel for the body in white. This comparative composition of the prior art is characterized by easy removability in accordance with current standards.

(55) FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4 show respectively photographic representations, after completed cleaning procedure as described above immediately after removal from the freshwater rinsing tank, of the test sheets which had been coated, in accordance with the numbering, with the exemplary lubricant compositions according to the present invention according to variants 1, 2, 3, and 4. All four show a closed water film across the entire metal sheet and thus complete wetting of the metal sheet which means a complete removal of the lubricant. Such a good washability at the present cold temperature range could not be realized with the lubricants of the prior art up to now.

(56) For example, it can be seen clearly in the photographic representation of FIG. 5 that on the metal sheet, which had been coated with the comparative composition and subjected to the same procedure as the test sheets with the lubricant compositions according to the invention, the water film is not closed but exhibits clearly unwetted regions and run-off effect as they are created in case of incomplete removal of the lubricant.

(57) The lubricant compositions according to the invention enable thus a significantly improved cold washability, which in particular can be seen clearly in the comparative illustration of the representations in FIG. 6 in which to the left the test sheet can be seen that had been coated with the comparative composition of the prior art and that after cleaning at 25 C. and freshwater rinsing shows clearly unwetted regions that are caused by unremoved lubricant residues while to the right the completely wetted test sheet is shown that had been coated with a composition according to the invention which has been removed completely by cleaning at 25 C. Therefore, the compositions according to the invention provide a significant improvement with regard to the energy expenditure required for cleaning. As the case may be, heating of the cleaner bath can even be advantageously completely omitted, depending on the environmental conditions.