2031JG24N00002 - Process Chemicals - RFI.docx
DOCX document 20 KB Posted
- Solicitation number
- 2031JG24N00002
- Issued by
-
Department of the Treasury
About this file
This document is a Request for Information (RFI) from the United States Mint (USM) seeking alternate suppliers of the process chemicals currently used to clean, protect, and lubricate metal blanks during coin production.
The RFI provides details on the USM's current coin production process, including the use of various chemicals such as "Slippery Water," "DM2009," "AC67," and "DI Rinse." It outlines the USM's requirements for the replacement chemicals, including the need for superior cleaning and surface preparation, easy rinsing with no residue, compatibility with production volumes, water solubility, and compliance with environmental regulations. The RFI also includes specifications for the composition, weight, diameter, and thickness of circulating U.S. coins.
The USM is seeking suppliers that can provide the required chemicals using readily available, non-proprietary components and processes, with the ability to produce large quantities at multiple locations and maintain at least 1-year shelf life. Interested parties are invited to respond to this RFI to help the USM identify alternate suppliers for their coin production chemical needs.
View the file
On GovTribe
Work with this file
- Download the original file
- Contacts named in this file
- Similar government files
- Ask GovTribe AI about this file
Text version
The United States Mint (USM) uses multiple process chemicals to clean, protect, and lubricate blanks during preparation and stamping processes. The USM wishes to find alternate suppliers of the current chemicals in use. Fulfilling this objective will require in-depth knowledge of cleaning compounds, corrosion protection, and lubrication for metals and the ability for small-scale and large-scale formulation and testing.
The following describes the current state of USM coin production as it relates to the chemical treatment of blanks and their use in the stamping process as well as a listing of the chemicals of interest. Also provided is a list of requirements desired by the USM and specifications for circulating coins (except for the penny which is provided to the USM as a ready to strike blank).
Current Process Sheets of thin metal are cold rolled by our suppliers and sent to the USM. The coil is fed through a press that punches out small circular blanks. To soften the metal and remove the residual stress, the blanks are annealed. Despite a protective atmosphere in the furnace, an unwanted thin oxide layer forms on the surface of the blank. The blanks are cooled in a quench tank with a chemical referred to as “Slippery Water”. Then the blanks are conveyed to a rotary barrel to be washed, with the subsequent chemicals, and then they are lightly rinsed and dried.
Current Chemicals
| Chemical |
| Description |
| Where/How Applied |
Slippery Water
| An aqueous-based emulsion of POLYOX water-soluble resins, used to lubricate the blanks |
| Added to quench tank after blanks exit annealing furnace |
| DM2009 |
| Citric acid + Polyethylene glycol phenyl ether phosphate + α-(4-Nonylphenyl)-ω-hydroxy-poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl) branched + Alcohols, C8-C10, ethoxylated propoxylated, used to clean and remove oxide after annealing (Denver Mint only) |
| Applied during wash cycle |
AC67
| DM2009 + ammonium citrate, used to clean and remove oxide after annealing (Philadelphia Mint only) |
| Applied during wash cycle |
DI Rinse
| Sodium bicarbonate solution, used to rinse the blanks and neutralize the pH (Philadelphia Mint only) |
| Applied during wash cycle |
Requirements Performance:
· Provide superior cleaning and surface preparation prior to stamping
· Must freely and easily rinse with no additional reagents and leave no residue on the blanks
· Ability to apply during in-line operations at full-scale production to millions of metal blanks per day, water soluble.
· Compatible with all circulating coinage alloys except for copper plated zinc (CPZ) penny planchets, see “United States Circulating Coin Specifications” table below for details Supply:
· Uses readily available, non-proprietary precursors and/or processes to manufacture.
· The major and critical components of the solution are reported to the Mint.
· Able to be produced at more than one location
· Can be produced in large quantities
· Have a shelf-life of at least 1 year
· Transportable to any Mint without needing heated or cooled transportation Health and Safety:
· Allow for safe storage and handling in an industrial setting
· Maximize compliance with applicable environmental regulations
United States Circulating Coin Specifications
Denomination
5-Cent
Dime Quarter Dollar
Half Dollar
$1
Bulk Composition (weight percent [%])
Monolithic Cupronickel (75% Cu- 25% Ni)
Cupronickel- Clad Copper (91.67% Cu- 8.33% Ni)
Cupronickel- Clad Copper (91.67% Cu- 8.33% Ni)
Cupronickel- Clad Copper (91.67% Cu- 8.33% Ni) Clad Manganese- Brass (88.5% Cu-6% Zn-3.5% Mn- 2% Ni)
| Core |
| -- |
| C110 Cu |
| C110 Cu |
| C110 Cu |
| C110 Cu |
Surface thickness and composition
0.175 mm 75%Cu, 25% Ni
0.226 mm 75%Cu, 25%Ni
0.289 mm 75%Cu, 25%Ni
0.413 mm 77%Cu, 12%Zn, 7%Mn, 4%Ni
| Weight (g) |
| 5.000 |
| 2.268 |
| 5.670 |
| 11.340 |
| 8.1 |
| Diameter (mm) |
| 21.21 |
| 17.91 |
| 24.26 |
| 30.61 |
| 26.49 |
| Thickness (mm) |
| 1.95 |
| 1.35 |
| 1.75 |
| 2.15 |
| 2.00 |
File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated .