EW January 2011

Lubrication & filtration

3M Communications Markets Division has introduced three new lubricants to help communication service providers protect their investment when pulling cable. The three new lubricants are 3M Concentrated Multi-Purpose Cable Lubricant; 3M Multi-Purpose Gel Cable Lubricant; and 3M Multi-Purpose Liquid Cable Lubricant. They all offer superior friction reduction and easy application when used on cables during installation. 3M’s Concentrated Multi-Purpose Cable Lubricant is designed for fibre, copper and coaxial cables types. The lubricant provides immediate tension reduction that lasts even after it has dried, reducing the need to re-apply, therefore boosting productivity and curbing costs. It is also highly concentrated, meaning that less lubricant is required than standard lubricants. This concentrated lubricant is available in three forms – a spray, a wipe and a pourable liquid – to provide the most efficient application for each situation. Wipes and spray applications are well-suited for category 6 cables and vertical cable jobs. The 3M Multi-Purpose Gel Cable Lubricant is a high-performance, thick, silicone gel containing microspheres, which offer added friction reduction. 3M introduces three new lubricants New sodium soap developed by Tecnovo Sodium soaps commonly

The gel lubricant is a high viscosity lubricant designed for heavier cable jackets for both inside and outside environments. 3M’s Multi-Purpose Liquid Cable Lubricant is a low viscosity lubricant that is formulated for longer cable pulls. It is designed for fibre copper and coaxial cable types. The gel and the liquid lubricants are designed to dry slowly, therefore reducing the need to re-apply. All three of the new cable lubricants from 3M are compatible with commonly used communication cable jackets, so one product can be used for a variety of cable pulling jobs. The lubricants are non-staining, non-hazardous and easy to clean off. They are designed to apply evenly in order to provide consistent lubrication and superior friction reduction. 3M Communication Markets Division has been a major player in the telecommunications industry for more than 40 years. The company offers one of the widest and most comprehensive suites of scalable solutions to communications service providers around the world.

3M Communications Markets Division – USA Website : www.3mtelecommunications.com

“ ACID-FREE PROCESS FOR STEEL ROD CLEANING & SURFACE PREPARATION” “New Way to Draw Steel Wire in the 21 st Century”

used in wire drawing contain components that are harmful to the environment. These components include nitrites, chlorinated and sulphurised compounds, and soaps of heavy metals (barium, chrome, lead). Tecnovo has developed a line of sodium soap products that do not contain any of these substances. Tecnovo is continuing re- search of new sodium-based lubricants. The company has developed a production process which uses

DCCD process features: • Eliminates acid, borax and precoatings • Zero energy consumption • Direct drawing from bare rod with no speed limitation, for H/C and L/C • New Lubricant Viscosity Control provides exceptionally adherent coating • Adjustable lubricant residual • Zero lubricant waste • Recommended for severe drawing applications (spring, rope, bead, CO 2 welding, PC strand, plating quality) • H/C wire drawn at 18 m/s (3600 ft/min) • Up to 8 times longer die life • Exiting wire temp. 45°C (113°F) • Greatly improved wire ductility

New sodium-based lubricants from Tecnovo ▲ ▲

only inorganic, non toxic and non harmful salts to obtain perfect reticulation of the fibre of the soap. It has also been possible to obtain more constant and stable behaviour at high temperatures than is obtained with soaps containing dangerous products. They can provide adequate lubrication of wire over a wider temperature range to cover temperature differences between first and last draft. Further important features are: strong adhesion of the lubricating film to the drawn wire, resistance to compression, strong polarity towards the drawn wire and removability of the lubricating film from the surface of the wire Tecnovo – Italy Fax : +39 02 54 55832 Website : www.tktgroup.it

DECALUB 31, avenue de Condé 77500 CHELLES, FRANCE Fax: +33 1 60 20 20 21 E-mail: info@decalub.com Website: www.decalub.com

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EuroWire – January 2011