2022

TRIBOLOGY
LECTURE 3-
LUBRICATION PART

LUBRICANTS (OIL)
Main Reference: Lectures of
Dr. Mohamed Al-Komy.
Types of Lubricant - Physical
• Liquid
• Mineral oil or synthetic oils
• Solid
• Graphite
• Semi solid
• Greases
• Gases
• Air
 Types of Industerial Oil
• 1) Engine oils
• 2) Gear oils
• 3) Turbine oils
• 4) Hydraulic oils
• 5) Metal working oils
• 6) Rust preventives oils
 Lubricant - Components
• Base oils
• Mineral by-products of crude oil
refining process.
• Base oils are polymer or synthetic
• Additives
• Natural
• Synthetic
 Lubricant additives function

* Enhance existing property.

* Suppress undesirable property.
* Impart new property.
 Function of a lubricant
• 1) Lubricate - Reduce friction
• 2) Cooling - Heat transfer
• 3) Cleaning - Detergency
• 4) Noise - dampening
• 5) Sealing – prevent leakage
 Properties of lubricants

• [1] Viscosity
• [2] Viscosity index
• [3] Pour Point
• [4] Flash Point
• [5] Total Base Number (TBN)
• [6] Total Acid Number (TAN)
 • [1] Viscosity
• Measure of internal resistance to flow
• Decreases with increase in temperature
• Important in lubricant selection
• Specified at 40˚C and 100˚C
• Absolute(dynamic),measured in centi poise (cP)
• Kinematic, measured in centi Stokes (cSt)
• Dynamic Viscosity (cP) = Kinematic Viscosity
(cSt) x Fluid Density (kg/m3)
 Viscosity Measurement

All viscometers apply a stress to the fluid and

measure the resistance to flow.

Most viscometers are in 2 major categories:

▪ Tube type viscometer
▪ Rotational type viscometer
1 - Capillary Tube Viscometers
 1 - Capillary Tube Viscometers

https://www.youtube.com/wa
tch?v=YslaWEpTDWk
1 - Capillary Tube Viscometers
 Rotational Viscometers
 These viscometer give the value of the ‘dynamic viscosity’.
 It is based on the principle that the fluid whose viscosity is
being measured is sheared between two surfaces.
 In these viscometers one of the surfaces is stationary and the
other is rotated by an external drive and the fluid fills the
space in between.
 The measurements are conducted by applying either a
constant torque and measuring the changes in the speed of
rotation or applying a constant speed and measuring the
changes in the torque.
 There are two main types of these viscometers: rotating
cylinder and cone-on-plate viscometers
Rotational Viscometers
2 - Rotating cylinder viscometer
3 - Cone-on-plate viscometer
4 – Modern Viscometers
5 – On - line viscosity measuring device
 • [2] Viscosity index

• Measure of fluids change of viscosity with

temperature.
• Empirical number
• The higher VI , the lower will be the change
of viscosity with temperature.
• [2] Viscosity index
• [2] Viscosity index
 • [2] Viscosity index

The viscosity index is calculated by the following formula:

VI = [(L - U) / (L - H) ] × 100

where ,
VI is viscosity index
U is the kinematic viscosity of oil of interest
L and H are the kinematic viscosity of the reference oils

kinematic viscosity in (cSt)

 • [3] Pour Point
• Lowest temperature at which the fluid
will flow.
• Indicates lowest operating temperature.
• Measured in ˚C
 • Pour Point

Oils must have pour points:

• Below the minimum operating temperature of
the system

• Below the minimum surrounding temperature

to which the oil will be expressed.
• [3] Pour Point
 • [4] Flash Point
• Lowest temperature at which the vapor
above the liquid will ignite under flame.
• Indicated safe maximum temperature of
operation.
• Indicator of volatility
• Measured in ˚C
 [5] Total Base Number (TBN)

• The alkalinity reserve in the oil is known as its

TBN.
• The higher the TBN value the more acid (sulfur)
neutralizing capacity the Oil contains.
• The number is expressed as milligrams of
Potassium Hydroxide per gram of oil.
• Important for deciding discard of oil.
 [6] Total Acid Number (TAN)

The TAN is a measurements of the total acids

present in the oil. The value is measured in units
of mg HCl/ g.

A rise in Total Acid Number (TAN) is indicative

of oil oxidation due to time and/or operating
temperature.
 [6] Total Acid Number (TAN)

The test is a measure of the acidity of the oil. An

oil's acidity levels can be affected by oxidation,
additive degradation and oil degradation.

The TAN value in conjunction with other oil

analysis tests can give greater insight into the
condition of the oil, and ultimately, the condition
of the machine which the oil is lubricating.
 Lab Tests - for lubricants
Kinematic viscosity ASTM D 445

Viscosity index ASTM D 2250

Pour Point ASTM D 97

Flash Point ASTM D 92

Total Base Number (TBN) ASTM D2896 - 07a

Total Acid Number (TAN) ASTM D 664

Oil analysis test
 Oil analysis test report
Include
Wear metal
Water
Soot
Contaminants
Kinematic viscosity (at 40oC &100oC)
Flash point
Pour point
Total base number from 5 to 15 for new oils <3
Total acid number (0.3 to 0.4 for new oils) maximum 2
Oil analysis test report
Include
 viscosity grading Systems
SAE viscosity grades
Designated
• For high temperature application
• Warmer areas/regions
• SAE 10
• SAE 20
• SAE 30
• SAE 40
• SAE 50
• SAE 60
 SAE viscosity grades
Designated
• For low temperature application
• Colder areas/regions
• SAE 0 W
• SAE 5 W
• SAE 10 W
• SAE 15 W
• SAE 20 W
• SAE 25 W
• [3] Pour Point
 SAE viscosity Mono grades

Mono grades are designated with single SAE number

. SAE 10, 20, 30, 40

• SAE 5W,10W, 15W,20W,25W
• Can be used either in summer season or in winter
seasons.
• Available as Engine oil and Gear Oils
 SAE viscosity Multi grades
Multi grades are designated with two SAE
number Widely in use today
SAE 10w/30, 15w/30, 25w/50
• SAE 5W/30, 20W/40
• Suitable for use in winter and summer
months or seasons
• Available in Engine oils & Gear oil
 SAE viscosity mono &multi grades
Gain in effective operating temperature range
Viscosity cSt (LOG-LOG)

Multi-grade Oil

OEM
Recommended
Operating Range

Mono-grade Oil

-20 40 100
Temperature oC (LOG)
ISO VG
viscosity
grades
AGMA
viscosity
grades