Lubricool™ 955, a next-generation copper wire drawing lubricant, is the culmination of extensive R&D and testing that proves innovative formulations can significantly extend sump life while delivering cleaner, more stable operations.
Jul 31, 2025
Metalube, a global leader in specialty lubricants, has announced the launch of Lubricool™ 955, a next-generation copper wire drawing lubricant engineered to overcome long-standing industry challenges such as copper soap formation, emulsion instability, and excessive maintenance downtime. The product launch is underpinned by insights from a technical paper by Emma Pates, Metalube’s Global Technical Services Manager, who examined the increasing demands on copper multi-wire drawing lubricants as wire counts and line speeds continue to rise.
Her research outlines three critical performance requirements for modern emulsions. First, lubricant longevity is essential, as emulsions must resist degradation and maintain film strength under severe heat and pressure. Second, thermal stability is crucial to ensure consistent viscosity and oxidation resistance, particularly at high drawing speeds. Finally, resistance to contamination is needed to minimize the formation of copper soap and the accumulation of metallic debris, both of which can lead to wire breakages and increased maintenance demands.
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“Lubricants have become mission-critical components in achieving the industry’s twin goals of high throughput and cleanliness,” said Pates. “Lubricool™ 955 is the culmination of extensive R&D and testing that proves innovative formulations can significantly extend sump life while delivering cleaner, more stable operations.”
Lubricool™ 955 has demonstrated in tests exceptional performance in both industrial and laboratory settings. The demonstrations resulted in a 90 percent reduction in copper soap formation, dramatically reducing contamination and cleaning requirements. It extended sump life by over 14 months of continuous operation without an emulsion change during a year-long field trial at a leading European wire producer. Additionally, it resulted in superior emulsion stability. It showed consistent refractometer readings and reduced bacterial growth risk. The tests also supported high-speed production with exceptional reliability, resulting in the lowest wire breakage ratio.
A 266-day laboratory copper-intake study further confirmed that Lubricool™ 955 resists copper contamination far longer than standard emulsions, retaining optimal lubrication properties and minimising downtime caused by undesirable by-products.
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“Our aim with Lubricool™ 955 was not just to create a cleaner, longer-lasting lubricant, but to redefine what wire producers can expect from emulsion technology,” added Pates. “The results from both lab and field trials prove that we’re delivering the next generation of performance and reliability.”
