US20040018947A1

US20040018947A1 - Lubricated sheet product and lubricant composition

Info

Publication number: US20040018947A1
Application number: US10/373,374
Authority: US
Inventors: James Anglin; Donald Smith
Original assignee: Alcoa Inc
Current assignee: Howmet Aerospace Inc
Priority date: 1998-05-15
Filing date: 2003-02-24
Publication date: 2004-01-29

Abstract

There is disclosed a metal sheet product, more particularly formed food container stock and/or industrial sheet product, which has been treated with a polymerizable lubricant composition having a vegetable oil portion which is less than about 60% monounsaturate in character, said composition comprising: (a) about 10-90 wt. % of a technical white mineral oil, preferably a polyalphaolefin, and/or white mineral oil, said component having an average molecular weight greater than about 480; and (b) about 10-90 wt. % of an edible vegetable oil selected from the group consisting of: safflower oil, canola oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil, corn oil, olive oil, pine nut oil, cottonseed oil and combinations thereof. Preferably, the latter component is a combination of about 8-20 wt. % safflower oil and about 25-50 wt. % canola oil.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/800,247 filed on Mar. 6, 2001, which is a continuation in part of application Ser. No. 09/396,624, filed on Sep. 15, 1999 and now abandoned, which itself was a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/079,775, filed on May 15, 1998, also abandoned, all prior disclosures of which are fully incorporated by reference herein.[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the lubrication of metal sheet product, either bare or coated on one or both sides. Such sheet product, including foil gauge thicknesses thereof, is suitable for use in making formed food containers, lids and trays, the packaging of certain health-related products like contact lenses, medicines and syringes, and for making industrial sheet products therefrom, including but not limited to non-food containers and lidding, and numerous air handling equipment applications like spiral duct products. The invention further relates to aluminum sheet stock sold in an already lubricated state, ready for further processing. The invention specifically relates to making food- and/or beverage-contacting sheet product from such aluminum alloys as 1050, 1100, 1145, 3003, 3004, 5017, 5042, 5052, 5082, 5182, 5352, 8011 and 8111 (Aluminum Association designations), said products being made and sold in numerous tempers including but not limited to: O, H19 and H24. An improved lubricant composition for such food and non-food sheet applications is also described herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The aluminum industry supplies formed container and tray manufacturers with millions of pounds of coiled sheet product each year. These manufacturers convert such sheet product into containers in numerous shapes and sizes. Such sheet products are often coated with a lubricant composition on one or both surfaces by the sheet supplier, with additional lubricant being applied as required by the container and/or tray maker prior to fabrication. The beer and beverage industry also uses substantial quantities of lubricated aluminum product each year in their manufacture of container or can bodies and lidding. Any lubricant residue on food or beverage packaging must meet all applicable U.S. Food and Drug Administration (or “FDA”) requirements. It is also important to address the dietary concerns of certain religious organizations with respect to food packaging.

Liquid and solid lubricants are used in metal working operations to reduce and control friction and wear between the surface of metal being worked and surfaces of the apparatus carrying out a given metal working operation. When suitably formulated and applied, lubricants reduce and control friction and wear. This can be facilitated by maintaining a polymerized thin film of an appropriate composition between the contacting surfaces in relative motion. Such a polymerized thin film can further limit or eliminate the tendency of smudge residues, which consist of metal fines and residual rolling lubricants, to transfer to the packaged product. Lubricants can also improve tooling cleanliness and durability and impart good surface quality to the worked product.

In addition to their friction and wear reducing characteristics, lubricant compositions are expected to fulfill certain other requirements in sheet forming applications. They should: be easy to apply and remove where removal is warranted; afford some protection to the metal surface during handling and storage; present no health hazards to persons coming in contact with the composition; and cause no degradation of the surfaces in contact therewith. For food-contacting packages, lubricant residues should not affect the characteristics of the packaged product. They may help facilitate the initial packaging of foodstuffs in these containers, e.g., by aiding in the spreading of pie dough onto properly lubricated pie pans. In other instances, lubricants help facilitate separation of the food from the formed sheet containers or trays in which such foods are warmed, cooked or baked.

It is known that lubricant compositions can be applied to aluminum sheet products through numerous methods. One representative means employs an electrostatic spray coater or atomizer as set forth in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,839,202 to Grassel, the disclosure of which is fully incorporated by reference herein. Still other known lubricant application means include dipping the sheet product or passing it through any of various applicators which generate fine droplets of lubricant for deposit on said sheet product with electrostatic assistance, or contacting the sheet with rotating rolls designed to transfer lubricant to the sheet from the roll. One may also incorporate lubricant as a coating component, coming to the surface in the cured coating, as is done for some can lid coatings. It is also known to use various lubricant-rich media, such as felt, over which the sheet may be advanced with lubricant transfer to one or both sides of the sheet. The lubricant composition/blend of this invention can be applied by any of the foregoing means. On a less preferred basis, the lubricant composition of this invention may be added to one or more solvents prior to application of the solvent to the sheet metal, said solvent(s) being suitable for evaporation and recovery for reuse. Representative solvents include hydrocarbons, such as hexane, and other organic solvents. For some sheet products, lubricated materials are further subjected to purposeful processing steps to impart mostly stylistic, but sometimes functional, improvements to surfaces which the consumer/end user most often sees or utilizes.

Macpherson U.S. Pat. No. 5,658,864 discloses biodegradable vegetable oil based lubricants including polyalphaolefins having a molecular weight of about 200-400 which reduce the pour point, improve the oxidation stability performance and hydrolytic stability performance of the lubricants. The monounsaturate levels of the vegetable oil used in the Macpherson compositions are above 60% for MINIMIZING oxidation and polymerization. The preferred lubricant composition, by sharp contrast, are designed to not only encourage polymerization, but also exploit the benefits of same.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an aspect of this invention to provide a lubricant composition for formed container stock and industrial sheet product applications which performs as well as leading compositions with respect to improved friction and wear performance.

It is another aspect of this invention to provide formable container and/or industrial sheet stock with one or more prelubricated surfaces so as to eliminate, or significantly reduce, the frequency of use and necessary amount of a second, or supplemental, lubricant that is subsequently applied to the stock by the purchaser prior to further fabrication.

It is yet another aspect of this invention to provide a lubricated sheet product and lubricant composition which overcomes the undesirable tendency, over time, for thin layers of certain lubricants to become tacky.

It is yet another aspect of this invention to provide a lubricant comprising a vegetable oil portion which is less than about 60% monounsaturate in character.

It is yet another objective to provide a lubricant comprising about 10-90 wt. % of a technical white mineral oil, a white mineral oil, or combinations thereof having an average molecular weight greater than about 480.

It is yet another aspect of this invention to provide a lubricant comprising about 10-90 wt. % of an edible vegetable oil comprising at least one of: safflower oil, canola oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil, corn oil, olive oil, pine nut oil and cottonseed oil.

It is yet another aspect of this invention to provide a lubricated aluminum sheet product having at least one surface treated with a lubricant having a vegetable oil portion which is less than about 60% monounsaturate that comprises about 10-90 wt. % polyalphaolefin (PAO) having a molecular weight greater than about 480 and about 10-90 wt. % edible vegetable oil comprising at least one of: safflower oil, canola oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil, corn oil, olive oil, pine nut oil and cottonseed oil.

It is yet another aspect of this invention to provide a liquid lubricant composition that is readily applied onto sheet product and is well suited to application by a variety of methods.

The main components of the present lubricant composition are liquids, thereby facilitating application by different methods and allowing for application without the use of solvents. Undesired oxidation can be minimized through the addition of an antioxidant, such as butylated hydroxytoluene (“BHT”), to the composition. The optional introduction of a conductivity-enhancing additive can provide adequate electrical conductivity for applying this lubricant electrostatically to metal being handled at production line speeds of up to 5,000 ft/min. Optional additions of up to about 10 wt. % lecithin, and/or other ionic materials like salts of fatty acids or phosphate derivatives of glycerides, enable electrostatic application of this invention.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a metal sheet product is provided, more particularly formed container stock and/or industrial sheet product, which has been treated with a lubricant composition whose vegetable oil components are less than about 60% monounsaturated. The composition comprises: (a) about 10-90 wt. % of a technical white mineral base oil such as a PAO, or a white mineral oil, either base oil component having an average molecular weight greater than about 480; and (b) about 10-90 wt. % of an edible vegetable oil, or vegetable oil blend, selected from the group consisting of safflower oil, canola oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil, corn oil, olive oil, pine nut oil, cottonseed oil or combinations thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the base oil is “durable” or stable with a minimal tendency to degrade over time. In a further preferred embodiment, the polyalphaolefin (or white mineral oil or technical white mineral oil) base oil exhibits low to zero biodegradability, thus further minimizing its tendency to degrade over time and minimizing odor generation during prolonged storage. Other edible vegetable oils, or blends with substantial contents of diunsaturated (e.g. linoleic) and/or monounsaturated (e.g. oleic) fatty acid chains, may be suitable substitutes for one or more of the foregoing vegetable oils. With the application of said composition onto sheet at total deposited weights of about 0.1-30 mg/ft ²per side, this invention results in both food- and non-food contacting sheet products having improved formability and resistance to the loosening or softening of smudge residues.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates the comparative viscosities for several sample, as-applied lubricant compositions; and [0018]
FIG. 2 illustrates the amount of time as-applied lubricant (comprising a 1:1 weight ratio blend of vegetable oil blend in the base oil) takes to migrate 12 inches when applied to a metal sheet inclined at a 15° angle.[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following detailed description, repeated reference is made to the application of preferred lubricant compositions to 1000, 3000, 5000 and 8000 Series aluminum sheet products (Aluminum Association designations). On a preferred basis, this lubricant is used on an aluminum alloy that is at least about 95% pure aluminum. It is to be understood, however, that this same composition and resultant sheet product may have other applications to steel and other formed food container and tray products. When referring to relative component percentages, all references are to percent by weight, or abbreviated “wt. %”, unless otherwise expressly indicated. [0020]
When referring to “sheet” products herein, such designations are meant to encompass all sheet and foil product thicknesses or gauges, including those higher than 0.006 inch (typically “sheet”) and those 0.006 inch or less (typically “foil”). The lubricant composition of this invention may be applied to one or both sides of substantially planar, aluminum sheet product ranging in overall thickness from about 0.00025-0.0200 inch thick, said sheet product being bare, coated, or of a laminate structure prior to lubricant application. When referring to “food” products, said term is meant to include both liquid and solid foodstuffs, as well as most beer and beverage products. And when referring to “containers” in the claims, and elsewhere throughout the description of this invention, said term is meant to include both containers, trays and the lidding or lidstock for each. Similarly, “container” stock includes sheet product suitable for containers, trays and the lidding (or lidstock) for each. [0021]
When referring to any numerical value, or range of values throughout this description and accompanying claims, it is to be understood that each range expressly includes every full and fractional number between the stated range maximum and minimum, such that a composition that includes about 10-90 wt. % of a polyalphaolefin would cover any lubricant having 11, 12, 13, 14 or 15 wt. % of that additive, as well as 89.5, 89.7 and 89.9 wt. %, up to and including 89.999 wt. % polyalphaolefin. The same applies to all other numerical compositional and performance ranges set forth herein. In addition, it should be noted that all of the compositional ranges set forth in the accompanying claims are expressly cross-referenced here to establish an antecedent basis therefor. [0022]
A first component of the present lubricant composition comprises a relatively high average molecular weight and relatively high viscosity polyalphaolefin which is a synthetic base oil, though it is to be understood that one or more technical white mineral oils or white mineral oils with a relatively high average molecular weight (e.g., greater than about 480) may be fully or partially substituted therefor. The use of polyalphaolefin or other white mineral oils or technical white mineral oils of relatively high molecular weight and sufficient viscosity has been found in accordance with the present invention to limit lubricant migration. It is undesirable for the lubricant to pool or migrate off the edge of sheet product after it has been applied thereto, as is the case with many lower molecular weight oils. [0023]
The PAOs used in accordance with the present invention are hydrocarbons which may be manufactured by the catalytic oligomerization of linear alpha olefins having six or more (usually between 8 and 12) carbon atoms. Many of the PAOs are derived from decene-1 oligomers. Other suitable products can be manufactured from dodecene-1 or other alphaolefin precursors. Alternatively, certain white mineral oils as described in 21 C.F.R. §178.3620(a), or technical white mineral oils consisting of refined mineral oils and/or synthetic hydrocarbons, as described in 21 C.F.R. §178.3620(b), may be used as a polyalphaolefin supplement and/or substitute in accordance with this invention. In addition, polyolefin products which meet the requirements of 21 C.F.R. §178.3620(b) may be substituted for the aforementioned PAOs. [0024]
FIG. 1 illustrates the viscosity for several sample as-applied lubricant compositions. FIG. 2 illustrates the amount of time (in seconds) an as-applied lubricant (comprising a 1:1 weight ratio blend of vegetable oil blend in the base oil) takes to migrate 12 inches when applied to a metal sheet inclined at a 15° angle. From that Figure, it can be deduced that lubricants having a lower viscosity and lower molecular weight exhibit a greater degree of lubricant migration. [0025]

Table I lists several preferred embodiments of base oils. The Durasyn® and Supersyn series oils have a PAO composition. The Semtol®, Chevron's Technical White Oil and Drakeol® series oils have a refined petroleum composition.

TABLE I


Example Suitable Base Oils

			Avg. Viscosity of a
			1:1 Base Oil and
			Vegetable Oil Mix
	Average		(cSt/400C)
	Molecular	Viscosity	*denotes
Product	Weight	(cSt/40° C.)	calculated

Durasyn ® 166	554	29-33	35*
Durasyn ® 168	629	45-49	43*
Durasyn ®
170	690	62-69	50*
Durasyn ®
174	1,400	380-430	110*
Durasyn ® 180	2,000	1,200-1,350	160*
SuperSyn 2150	3,500	1,500	170*
SuperSyn 2300	5,100	3,200	210*
SuperSyn 21000	11,500	12,000	˜300s*
SuperSyn 23000	20,900	35,700	˜400s*
Semtol ® 400	503	70-90	43
Semtol ® 500	541	90-125	50
Chevron T.W.O. 600	580	114	52
Drakeol ® 34	At least 480	72-79.5	44

[0027] Durasyn® 170 is a particularly suitable PAO that is sold commercially by BP Amoco Chemicals. Durasyn® 170 has a viscosity of about 62-69 centistokes as measured at 40° C. and 10 centistokes (or “cSt”) as measured at 100° C. By selecting base oils with molecular weights of about 480 and higher, the base oil's correlating viscosities make it possible to customize formulated lubricant viscosity, optimize sheet forming performance and/or minimize lubricant migration (or flow after initial application). It is to be understood that other PAOs may be used in combination with the main lubricant constituents of this invention. Suitable substitutes for BP Amoco's Durasyn® include: Exxon Mobil's SHF line of PAO products and Uniroyal Chemical's line of Synton® products. It is to be understood that other desired viscosities may also be effected by blending together two or more of the aforementioned polyalphaolefins.
The second component of the present lubricant composition is an edible vegetable oil, preferably one high in diunsaturated fatty acid derivatives. Preferred vegetable oil products include one or more of: safflower oil, canola oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil, corn oil, olive oil, pine nut oil and cottonseed oil, with a combination of safflower and canola oil being most preferred. One suitable safflower oil product is sold by Welch, Holme & Clark Co., Inc. An alternative source is the Hain Food Group, Inc. One suitable canola oil product is also sold by Welch, Holme & Clark Co., Inc. An alternative source is the Procter & Gamble Company. In more preferred embodiments of this invention, it has been determined that the best results, in terms of combinations of properties, have been observed when a combination of safflower oil and canola oil are combined with PAO. Particularly preferred ratios of safflower oil to canola oil in these compositions range from about 1:2 or 1:2.5 to about 1:4. Most preferred properties were observed with a lubricant containing about 1:3 safflower to canola oil. Although the use of vegetable oils as environmentally responsible lubricants in various machining and metalworking fluids is well known (e.g. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,581,152, 4,775,418, 5,538,654 and 5,681,797), as is their use in pan lubricants for cooking (e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 4,023,912), this is their first known application, in combination with other materials, for sheet lubrication as described herein. [0028]
The tendency for thin films of highly unsaturated oils to develop a tacky feel was compared following storage of lubricant-coated metal samples for several weeks under selected conditions. Although tackiness was observed for certain metal surfaces coated with only pure vegetable oils, samples coated with the preferred blends of this invention remained slippery to the touch. [0029]
When improved electrostatic application of this lubricant composition is desired, it is preferred that up to about 10 wt. %, and preferably about 1-7 wt. %, of a conductivity enhancer such as lecithin, be added to the foregoing lubricant blend. One representative, commercially available lecithin product is sold by ADM Ross & Rowe Lecithins under the name “Thermolec 57”. Another substitute therefor is sold by Central Soya Company, Inc. as Centrophase® 152. Still another possible supplier of lecithin products is Reichhold Chemicals, Inc., who market their line of Kelecin® products. [0030]
For improved oxidation resistance, it has been observed that up to about 2 wt. % of an antioxidant should be included in the aforementioned formula. One suitable example of such, butylated hydroxytoluene, or di-t-butyl-p-cresol, is sold by many suppliers including Rhein Chemie and PMC Specialties. Other suitable antioxidants include butylated hydroxyanisole, a tocopherol; and mixtures thereof. [0031]

Table II—Miniature Cup Die Testing

For 40% drawn miniature cups made from 3003 aluminum alloys, in O, H19 and H24 tempers, the following percentages of cups were successfully formed from sheet product comparatively lubricated with:



		TEMPER
LUBRICANT	O	H19	H24

50% Safflower Oil; 50% PAO (Durasyn 170)	100%	100%	100%
100% Safflower Oil	100%	100%	100%
50% Canola Oil; 50% PAO (Durasyn 170)	90%	100%	100%
100% Canola Oil	54%	100%	100%
Wax Based Lubricant A	100%	100%	100%
Liquid Based Lubricant B	20%	80%	90%

Formability testing comparisons from the foregoing Table II show that blends of safflower or canola oil with [0033] Durasyn 170, a polyalphaolefin, performed well and were improved over a commercially used liquid lubricant B.
The tendency to loosen or soften smudge residues was measured by wiping the lubricated surfaces with absorbent cloth soaked with vegetable oil at times of 1 day and 7 days after application of the lubricant to the metal surface. Comparisons of the amount of smudge transferred to the cloth indicated a substantially reduced amount of smudge transfer for the formulations of this invention compared with other liquid formulations and a definite improvement at 7 days as compared to 1 day results from the polymerization of unsaturated oil in a thin film.. [0034]

Table III that follows summarizes preferred compositions for several different, basic applications of lubricants in accordance with this invention. The first has been customized for improved formability and smudge control; the second for improved application to aluminum sheet products; the third for improved oxidation resistance; and the fourth for achieving the benefits of the first three compositions while still maintaining good formability and smudge control performance.

TABLE III


Preferred Lubricant Compositions

	1. Improved	2. 1 and
	Formability	and Better	3. 1 and Better	4. 1, 2
	& Smudge	Electrostatic	Oxidation	and 3
Component	Control	Application	Resistance	Combined

Polyalpha-	25-75 wt. %	15-75 wt. %	23-75 wt. %	13-75 wt.%
olefin
Safflower	5-25 wt. %	5-25 wt. %	5-25 wt. %	5-25 wt.%
Oil
Canola	15-60 wt. %	15-60 wt. %	15-60 wt. %	15-60 wt. %
Oil
Lecithin		0-10 wt. %		0-10 wt. %
BUT			0-2 wt. %	0-2 wt. %

The following matrix (Table IV) was developed to provide information on odor-related properties as well as relative tackiness of a lubricated metal surface. The samples were stored for 9 days at room temperature, then 7 days at 50° C. prior to evaluation to simulate extended storage conditions. Odor was evaluated by sample comparison with “−” indicating a strong odor, “o” for an intermediate odor, and “+” for a mild odor. Feel was a comparison of relative smoothness evaluated by sliding a finger along the lubricated product surface. The extent of mottling was a visual evaluation of the surface of prelubricated sheet that was stacked, then purposefully separated after the aforementioned storage times. Finally, “sticking on peeling” was evaluated during the separation of the stacked samples used for evaluating mottling. Note, all of the formulations in Table IV contained additions of 4 wt. % lecithin and 0.25 wt. % BHT.

TABLE IV


Odor and Feel Tests

			Extent of	Sticking on
Formulation	Odor	Feel	Mottling	Peeling

PAG
10 50%; Saff 25%; Can 25%	+	smooth	medium	slight
PAG
10 50%; Saff 50%	+	smooth	med-high	none
PAO
10 50%; Petrolatum 5%, Saff 45%	−	less smooth	med-high	med-high
PAG
10 75%; Saff 25%	o	smooth	med	slight
PAG
10 50%; Saff 37.5%, Can 12.5%	+	smooth	slight-med	slight
PAG
10 50%; Saff 12.5%, Can 37.5%	o	smooth	slight	none
PAG
10 25%; Saff 75%	−	smooth	med	slight-med
Saff
100%	−	stick	med-high	med
PAG
10 100%	+	smooth	med	trace

These results show the benefit of adding PAO to counter the stickiness of a pure vegetable oil. The safflower oil, especially at higher levels, tended to demonstrate more odor. The presence of canola oil tended to give a less mottled appearance on peeling apart as well as less stickiness. Coupled with the earlier formability results above, the advantages of formulations combining both safflower and canola oil with PAO are readily apparent. Adding up to about 1% BHT to same enhanced the ability of the formulations of this invention to resist undesirable odor generation from chemical degradation, particularly when metal samples were subjected to about 180 days' storage at about 100° F. [0037]
The vegetable oil portions of the lubricant compositions of this invention should be less than about 60% monounsaturated in character. In this invention, polymerization of the vegetable oil is desired. High monounsaturate content is not conducive to polymerization and is not preferred. Vegetable oil portions higher in monounsaturates are less prone to form the polymeric films that help keep smudge from being released, a principal objective of this invention. The preferred compositions of this invention are, by contrast, high in polyunsaturates. While canola oil is about 60% monounsaturated, preferred embodiments herein mix that component with safflower oil which is only about 13% monounsaturated (and about 78% polyunsaturated). Any amount of safflower oil added to the canola oil component of these preferred embodiments brings the monounsaturate levels of these vegetable oil portions below about 60%. [0038]
Preferred ratios of main components to the lubricant composition of this invention are: about 25-75 wt. % polyalphaolefin (or technical white mineral oil) and about 25-75 wt. % of a vegetable oil selected from: safflower oil, canola oil and combinations thereof. More preferably, this lubricant contains about 40-60 wt. % of said polyalphaolefin, about 8-20 wt. % safflower oil and about 25-50 wt. % canola oil. Other optionally added components include: about 0.02-2 wt. % butylated hydroxytoluene (more preferably about 0.1-2 wt. % of same) and about 1-7 wt. % lecithin. [0039]
Having described the presently preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention may be otherwise embodied by the scope of the claims appended hereto. [0040]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A metal sheet product having a first and second surface at least one of which is lubricated with a polymerizable thin film composition, the composition comprising:

(a) about 10-90 wt. % of a stable base oil component comprising technical white mineral oil, white mineral oil or combinations thereof; and

(b) about 10-90 wt. % of an edible vegetable oil that is less than 60% monounsaturated.

2. A metal sheet product having a first and second surface at least one of which is lubricated with a composition, the composition comprising:

(a) about 10-90 wt. % of a component selected from the group consisting of a technical white mineral oil, a white mineral oil or combinations thereof, said component having an average molecular weight greater than about 480; and

3. The sheet product of claim 2 wherein said edible vegetable oil is selected from the group comprising: safflower oil, canola oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil, corn oil, olive oil, pine nut oil, cottonseed oil and combinations thereof.

4. The sheet product of claim 2 wherein component (a) has an average molecular weight of from about 500 to about 21,000.

5. The sheet product of claim 4 wherein component (a) has an average molecular weight of from about 600 to about 1,000.

6. The sheet product of claim 5 wherein component (a) has an average molecular weight of from about 650 to about 750.

7. The sheet product of claim 6 wherein component (a) has an average molecular weight of about 690.

8. The sheet product of claim 2 wherein the metal is an aluminum alloy.

9. The sheet product of claim 8 wherein said alloy is at least 95% pure aluminum.

10. The sheet product of claim 8 wherein said alloy is selected from the group comprising: 1050, 1100, 1145, 3003, 3004, 5017, 5042, 5052, 5082, 5182, 5352, 8011 and 8111 aluminum (Aluminum Association designations).

11. The sheet product of claim 2 which is suitable for making into formed containers and lidding for food or health care products.

12. The sheet product of claim 2 which is suitable for making into industrial sheet product selected from the group comprising of non-food containers, lidding and air handling equipment.

13. The sheet product of claim 2 wherein the technical white mineral oil is a polyalphaolefin.

14. The sheet product of claim 13 wherein said technical white mineral oil comprises about 25-75 wt. % polyalphaolefin.

15. The sheet product of claim 2 wherein the composition contains about 25-75 wt. % of an edible vegetable oil.

16. The sheet product of claim 15 wherein the edible vegetable oil is selected from the group consisting of: safflower oil, canola oil and combinations thereof.

17. The sheet product of claim 2 wherein the composition contains about 40-60 wt. % of said polyalphaolefin, about 8-20 wt. % safflower oil and about 25-50 wt. % canola oil.

18. The sheet product of claim 2 wherein the composition further contains up to about 10 wt. % of a conductivity enhancer.

19. The sheet product of claim 18 wherein said conductivity enhancer consists essentially of lecithin.

20. The sheet product of claim 2 wherein the composition further contains up to about 2 wt. % of an antioxidant.

21. The sheet product of claim 20 wherein said antioxidant is selected from the group comprising: butylated hydroxytoluene, butylated hydroxyanisole, a tocopherol, and mixtures thereof.

22. The sheet product of claim 20 wherein said antioxidant consists essentially of butylated hydroxytoluene.

23. The sheet product of claim 2 wherein said composition contains about 40-60 wt. % of said polyalphaolefin; about 8-20 wt. % safflower oil; about 25-50 wt. % canola oil; and about 1-7 wt. % lecithin.

24. The sheet product of claim 23 wherein the composition further contains about 0.02-2 wt. % butylated hydroxytoluene.

25. The sheet product of claim 2 wherein said composition contains about 40-60 wt. % of said polyalphaolefin; about 8-20 wt. % safflower oil; about 25-50 wt. % canola oil; and about 0.02-2 wt. % butylated hydroxytoluene.

26. The sheet product of claim 25 wherein said composition contains about 40-60 wt. % of said polyalphaolefin; about 8-20 wt. % safflower oil; about 25-50 wt. % canola oil; about 0.1-2 wt. % butylated hydroxytoluene and about 1-7 wt. % lecithin.

27. Formed container stock made from an aluminum alloy having a first and second surface, at least one surface of which has been treated with a lubricant composition having a vegetable oil portion which is less than about 60% monounsaturate, the composition consisting essentially of:

(a) about 10-90 wt. % of a component selected from the group consisting of: a technical white mineral oil, a white mineral oil or combinations thereof, said component having an average molecular weight greater than about 480; and

(b) about 10-90 wt. % of an edible vegetable oil selected from the group consisting of: safflower oil, canola oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil, corn oil, olive oil, pine nut oil, cottonseed oil and combinations thereof.

28. The container stock of claim 27 wherein said alloy is selected from the group consisting of: 1050, 1100, 1145, 3003, 3004, 5017, 5042, 5052, 5082, 5182, 5352, 8011 and 8111 aluminum (Aluminum Association designations).

29. The container stock of claim 27 onto at least one surface of which has been deposited about 0.1-30 mg/ft²of said composition.

30. The container stock of claim 27 wherein the technical white mineral oil is a polyalphaolefin and the composition contains about 25-75 wt. % of said polyalphaolefin.

31. The container stock of claim 27 wherein said composition contains about 25-75 wt. % of a vegetable oil selected from the group comprising: safflower oil, canola oil and combinations thereof.

32. The container stock of claim 27 wherein said composition contains: about 40-60 wt. % of said polyalphaolefin, about 8-20 wt. % safflower oil and about 25-50 wt. % canola oil.

33. The container stock of claim 27 wherein said composition further contains up to about 10 wt. % of a conductivity enhancer.

34. The container stock of claim 33 wherein said conductivity enhancer consists essentially of lecithin.

35. The container stock of claim 27 wherein said composition further contains about 1-7 wt. % lecithin.

36. The container stock of claim 27 wherein said composition further contains up to about 2 wt. % of an antioxidant.

37. The container stock of claim 36 wherein said antioxidant is selected from the group comprising: butylated hydroxytoluene, butylated hydroxyanisole, a tocopherol and mixtures thereof.

38. The container stock of claim 37 wherein said antioxidant consists essentially of butylated hydroxytoluene.

39. The container stock of claim 27 wherein said composition contains about 40-60 wt. % polyalphaolefin; about 8-20 wt. % safflower oil; about 25-50 wt. % canola oil; and about 1-7 wt. % lecithin.

40. The container stock of claim 39 wherein said composition further contains about 0.02-2 wt. % butylated hydroxytoluene.

41. A lubricant composition for sheet product made from an aluminum alloy, said composition having a vegetable oil portion which is less than about 60% monounsaturate comprising:

(a) about 10-90 wt. % of a polyalphaolefin having an average molecular weight greater than about 480; and

42. The lubricant composition of claim 41 wherein said alloy is selected from the group consisting of: 1050, 1100, 1145, 3003, 3004, 5017, 5042, 5052, 5082, 5182, 5352, 8011 and 8111 aluminum (Aluminum Association designations).

43. The lubricant composition of claim 41 which contains about 25-75 wt. % polyalphaolefin.

44. The lubricant composition of claim 41 which contains about 25-75 wt. % of a vegetable oil selected from the group consisting of: safflower oil, canola oil and combinations thereof.

45. The lubricant composition of claim 41 which contains: about 40-60 wt. % polyalphaolefin, about 8-20 wt. % safflower oil and about 25-50 wt. % canola oil.

46. The lubricant composition of claim 41 which further contains up to about 10 wt. % of a conductivity enhancer.

47. The lubricant composition of claim 46 wherein said conductivity enhancer consists essentially of lecithin.

48. The lubricant composition of claim 41 which further contains up to about 2 wt. % of an antioxidant.

49. The lubricant composition of claim 48 wherein said antioxidant is selected from the group consisting of: butylated hydroxytoluene, butylated hydroxyanisole, a tocopherol and mixtures thereof.

50. The lubricant composition of claim 49 wherein said antioxidant consists essentially of butylated hydroxytoluene.

51. The lubricant composition of claim 41 which consists essentially of about 40-60 wt. % polyalphaolefin; about 8-20 wt. % safflower oil, about 25-50 wt. % canola oil and about 1-7 wt. % lecithin.

52. The lubricant composition of claim 51 which further contains about 0.02-2 wt. % butylated hydroxytoluene.