Properties of lubricat·

(i) Viscosity: {E_ is th~. resistance offered b li . ing oil:

'" . -
detenmned by Red Wood Viscometer
.
f
Y quid or fluid
li . .
.
towards its own fb
quid m a state of st
may be supposed to consist of a series of p ll - eady flow on a s~c,
ara e1layer movin ~,
two layers will move with a different vel if ~ gone above the othe.914.n..,
oc ie~top layer mov fi ,~,.
lower layer@_ue to internal friction.\frt is th . d" es aster than the next
u:,i~ e m icator of flow ability of hi . . ~
If two layers of a liquid separated by a distanced . . a bncatmg o~
and movmg with a velocity diffi
v then the force per unit area (F) required to maint . th . .. erence
run e velocity difference is given by
F = T)V/d
Where Tl is called coefficient of viscosity.
Ifv = lcrn!s, d = 1 cm thenF = 11
So coefficient of viscosity (TJ) may be defined as th fi • .
::,, e orce per urut area required to
maintain a unit velocity
·
gradient between two parallel layers Th
_ ·
· .c.
e cgs umt 1or measurmg
•

the coefficient of viscosity is the poise. ~

Significance of viscosity:
Viscosity is the most important single property of any lubricating oil, b~cause it used to
detennine the quality of a lubricant under a given set of operating conditions.
@fli_the viscosity of the oil is too low, a liquid oil film cannot be maintained between
two moving/sliding surfaces, and consequently, excessive wear will take place.
i,·
~ g If the machine is moving at a slow speed under heavy load, lubricants of high
viscosity are preferred because lubricants will be pressed out of the moving parts]
(iif(g the viscosity is too high, excessive friction will r~sult.
~In light n1achine like sewing machine, clock-etc low viscosity lubricants are selected
as high viscosity oil will cause jamn1ing of the machine pmts J _
,,

Pl
 ~ t of temP!lrature on viscosity:
_ JScostty of liq .
v· .
temperature and consequently, the lubricating Uids decreases with inc~:;
oil becomes thinn -~
temperature increases. Hence viscosity of a d . er as the operating
goo lubricating 0 ii 8 h
'-vith ange in temperature. · ould not change much
?"-_;,,;;:=.....:l:.:.::n:.::d.;.ex=.:: The rate at which the viscostty' f .
. o an oil changes with .
measured by an arbitrary scale known as Visctty. · temperature 1S
os 1ndex. If the viscosity 0 f .
rapidly as the temperature is raised, it has low vis · . . an oil falls
cos tty index. If the viscosity of il
slightly affected on rising the temperature it has high . . . an°
' V1Scos1ty index
For a good lubricating oil viscosity-index should be high.
Determination of Viscosity Index: To determine viscosity· · d T
' in ex wo types of standard
oils, Paraffmic-base Pennsylvanian oils (V.I =100) and Naphth · b G .
. aruc- ase ulf oils (VI
= O) are used. Against each of these is marked their viscosities at 1OO0F and op.
21O
Former are known as H-oils and latter as L-oils.
Following steps involved to detennine viscosity index:
Step I: The viscosities of the oil under test at 100°F and also at 210°F are first found
out, let these values be U and V respectively. The difference between the two values
should be low, if the oil is good. If difference between the two values high if the oil is
poor.
_Step 2: Now from the list of H-oils (VI = 100), the oil which as the same viscosity at
2J0°F as the oil under-test is selected, and its corresponding viscosity at 100°F is
determine: say H.
Step 3: Then, from the list of L-oils (VI = 0), the oil which as same viscosity at l00°F is

determine: say L.

f VI=~=~x100 I
Where U: vfacosity at 100°F of the test oil (sample)
L: viscosity.-at 100°F of the low-viscosity standard oil
I I: viscosity at 100°F of the high-viscosity standard oil
 ~hand Fire Point:@e minimum temperature at wbi0h
vapours to ignite for a moment (flash), when a flame is brought near the 8
oil, called its Flash point.
The lowest temperature at which the vapours of the oil bum continuously for at
seconds, called its Fire point.
Gooll lubricant should have higher flash point w.r.t working temperature]
~ most cases, the fire-points are 5 to 40° C higher than the flash-poin§Tue flash and
fire-points do not have any bearing with the lubricating property of the oil, but thes
e are
important when oil is exposed to high temperature service. A good lubricant should have
flash point at least above the temperature at which it is to be used. These safe guards

against risks of frre, during the use of lubricant. The flash and fire-points are, usually,
d r e d by using Pensky-Marten's apparatus.
J-Ioud and pour point: ~en an oil is cooled slowly, the temperature at which it
becomes cloudy or hazy in appearance, is called its Cloud point. While the temperature
at which the oil ceases to flow or pour, is called its Pour point. Lubricant used in a
machine working at low temperatures should possess low pour-point; otherwise
solidification of lubricant will cause jamming of the machine. It has been found that
presence of waxes in the lubricating oil raise the pout-point. Cloud and pour point
indicate the suitability of lubricants in cold condition. Pour point detenniners the
suitability of a lubricant oil for low temperature. The presence of waxes in the
lubricating oil increases the pour poinCJ

~ Aniline [!Oint: fAniline point is defined as "the minimum equilibrium solution

temperature for equal volwiie of aniline and oil sample". It gives an indication of the
possible tendency of deterioration of an oil when it comes into contact with packing,
rubber sealing etc. A lower aniline point of an oil means a higher percentage of
aromatic hydrocarbons in itl Aromatic hydrocarbons have a tendency to -dissolve
natural rubber and certain types of synthetic rubbers.[rhus good lubricating oil should
have higher aniline point~
 I
1lctermination of aniline Point: Aniline point is detennine by mixing equal volwnes
of aniline and the oil_sample in a tube. Then the mixture is heating until a homogeneous
solution is obtained. _Then the tube is allowed to cool at a specific rate, until the two
phases (oil & aniline) separate out is recorded at the aniline point. ,.
,9utting fluid: ~y liquid (such as oil, water or oil emulsion) or a gas used to cool as
'-
well as to lubricate is called a cutting fluid. Emulsions of oil-in-water are mostly used as
cutting fluids. Cutting fluids are required for tools used in the machine shop for cutting,
threading, sawing, planning, turning, drilling, etc. ; and the cutting fluid perfonns either
of the fractions ; (i) to cool the tools, or (ii) to lubricate the tools, or (iii) to cool as well
as to lubricate the too~
In such machining operations, the friction is very high, due to close contact between the
work-piece and the tool; and this generates large amounts of local heat, thereby the tool
gets overheated and it may even lose its temper and ~ardness. Consequently, in such a
case, the cutting fluid provides cooling, besides lubrication. U~ order to provide
satisfactory service, the cutting fluid should possess:
1. good lubricating property
2. Low viscosity, so that the lubricant can·· easily fill in the cracks fonned on the
work-piece
3. Chemical Stability
4. Non-corrosive nature towards the metals of the work-piece as well as tool
5. High thermal conductivity~\