Is it possible to mix lubricant in washing water?

[mailtrams]

Hello.

I'm wondering if it is possible to mix lubricant in the washing water.
The idea is that after the washing the part is also lubricated.

Thanks.

 

[romke]

i don't think it is possible. you can of course mix certain products to form a stable emulsion (as in a lot of metalworking fluids), but then the lubricant does not separate from the water afterwards as you wish. is it lubrication you are after or rust prevention? normally a wet metal component is dipped or sprayed with a water repellent corrosion preventive that repells the water on the metal surface but gives only a rather limited protection. for longer protection another thicker rustpreventive usually is employed that adheres better to the metal surface, but is less good in chasing the water away.

 

[mailtrams]

Thanks for the answer romke.
Actually I have been given the wrong information from a colleague. The idea was to investigate if there is a water carried lubricant we can use after the washing. And the main think is not rust as we use SS steel but it's to reduce wear.
But your post contained a lot of useful information for me.
Thank you, Thomas

 

[romke]

in that case i think you will have to apply a two step proces: first (after washing) chase the water away (with a strong water repellent anti corrosion fluid) and then dip or spray the parts with an appropriate lubricant that then will adhere quite well to the metal because all the water has gone. for the latter you would then choose a lubricant of the appropriate viscosity - where heating it may be necessary if the viscosity is too high to be sprayed directly.

is there a particular reason for the use of ss steel? from a lubrication point of view stainless steel is not the most suitable material.

 

[ck1999]

when cleaning the part it depends on how clean you want the part. If you are trying to get all the soil off the part then you would have to follow up with a lubricant synthetic or semi-synthetic may provide enough lubrication. If you only want to wash the bulk of the soil off the part say about 90-95% then you could use a cleaner with a synthetic lubricant.

About what romke is saying the two products can be one most of your water displacing corrosion inhibitors contain oil which will give you added lubrication and driving off the water.

ck1999