Technology options

Soap-based technology

Traditionally, the legacy Houghton products require frequent testing and analysis:

•Concentration

•Ash

•Bacteria

•Viscosity

•pH

•Additive concentrations – Dry-down FTIR

•Conductivity

•Soap levels

•Acid number

NOA technology

Experience shows NOA requires a lower frequency of analysis and fewer parameters:

•Concentration

•pH

•Viscosity – mainly to monitor tramp oils

•Esters concentration – low frequency

Note: This links back to Criterium 1: Consistent and stable properties over time; No break in issues

Legacy Quaker

Legacy Quaker products required very little analysis and was based on achieving an equilibrium that balanced depletion rates and addition formulation.

Moisture balance used in preference to acid-split procedure.

1.3.Ester technology

Ester analysis contributes to the complexity of analysis.

Is it possible to develop a single ester that combines the properties of the current ester components:

• NPG esters – Impacts on surface quality – control of pick up

• PETO esters – Impacts on film formation

Proposed approach:

•Develop an inventory (functional specification) of required properties to be achieved

oFilm formation capacity

oSurface quality

oStability

•Develop tests to verify properties / performance

•Develop time-based performance tests:

oDepletion of surfactants

oBuild-up of reaction products from rolling

•Investigate the use of the Roll Gap Mimicking test

•Confirm performance on pilot mill

•Confirm field performance

Target ester attributes:

•Multi-functional / Single-component

•Easily analysable

•Maintenance-free use in field applications

•It should work for the full range of Aluminium products and not require alloy specific adjustments.

1.4.Emulsifier technology

Emulsifiers impact on:

Streaming potential

Wetting properties

Surfactants, by nature, are prone to depletion.

Investigate online surface tension and streaming potential measurements to manage emulsifier content.

1.5.Solution

Solutions provide easier solutions for monitoring such as refractive index measurement.