LUBRICANTS

What is lubricant?

A lubricant is a substance introduced to reduce friction

between surfaces in mutual contact, which ultimately
reduces the heat generated when surface moves.

It may also have the function of transmitting forces,

transporting foreign particles or heating or cooling the
surface.

The property of reducing friction is called lubricity.

USES: Industry, cooking (oils and fats in use in frying pans,

in baking to prevent food sticking), bioapplications on
humans (e.g. lubricants for artificial joints), ultrasound
examination, medical examinations, and the use of
personal lubricant
Properties of a good Lubricant
• High viscosity index
• High flash and low pour point.
• Total base number
• Thermal stability
• Hydraulic stability
• Demulsibility
• Corrosion prevention
• High resistance to oxidation
Viscosity Index
 CLASSIFCATIONS OF LUBRICANTS
(Based on composition)
Dry lubricant:
• PTFE: polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is typically used as a
coating layer on, for example, cooking utensils to provide a
non-stick surface.
• Inorganic solids: Graphite, hexagonal boron nitride,
molybdenum disulfide and tungsten disulfide are examples of
solid lubricants. Some retain their lubricity to very high
temperatures.
• Metal/alloy: Metal alloys, composites and pure metals can be
used as grease additives or the sole constituents of sliding
surfaces and bearings.
• Cadmium and Gold are used for plating surfaces which gives
them good corrosion resistance and sliding properties
 CLASSIFCATIONS OF LUBRICANTS
(Based on composition)
Aqueous lubrication
➢ Strongly hydrated brush polymers such as PEG can serve as
lubricants at liquid solid interfaces.
➢ By continuous rapid exchange of bound water with other free
water molecules, these polymer films keep the surfaces
separated while maintaining a high fluidity at the brush–brush
interface at high compressions, thus leading to a very low
coefficient of friction.

PEG
 CLASSIFCATIONS OF LUBRICANTS
(Based on composition)

Biolubricants
➢ Biolubricants are derived from vegetable oils and other
renewable sources.
➢ They usually are triglyceride esters (fats_ obtained from plants
and animals.
➢ Common ones include high oleic canola oil, castor oil, palm
oil, sunflower seed oil and rapeseed oil from vegetable, and
Tall oil from tree sources.
CLASSIFCATIONS OF LUBRICANTS
(Based on application)

❖ Engine oils
❖ Gear oils
❖ Hydraulic oils
❖ Cutting fluids
❖ Compressor oils
❖ Rust protection oils
❖ Transformer oils
❖ Turbine oils
❖ Quenching and heat transfer oils
❑ Engine oil

❖ Provision of stable oil film between sliding surfaces.

❖ Provision of reliable engine operation in a wide temperature

range.
❖ Rust or corrosion protection of engine parts

❖ Cleaning the engine parts from sludge

❖ Cooling the engine parts.

Gear oil

➢They have proper viscosity

➢Ability to withstand extreme pressure.
➢Thermal and oxidation stability.
➢Corrosion and rust protection.
➢Compatibility with seal materials.
Hydraulic oils : It’s is a fluid lubricant used in
hydraulic system for transmitting power
 Function of hydraulic oils……
• Low temperature sensitivity of viscosity.
• Thermal and chemical stability.
• Low compressibility.
• Water emulsifying ability.
• Resistance to cavitation.
• Rust and oxidation protection property
• Compatibility with sealent materials.
Cutting oil: It’s is a liquid used in a metal working
operation for reducing friction between the work
piece and tool, and for removal of heat.
Function of cutting oil…..

▪ Better surface finish.

▪ Longer tool life.
▪ Narrower tolerance of workpiece size.
▪ Lower energy consumption.
▪ Cleaner cutting zone.
▪ Better corrosion protection.
Compressor oil: This fluid is used for
moving metal parts of gas (air)
compressor.
Rust oil: These lubricants provides temporary protection of metal parts
from oxidation caused by moisture, oil contaminants and chemically
active atmosphere.
 Function of rust oil……
• It protects materials from damage.
• It has a great industrial use.
• Lengthen the storage period of metals.
Heat transfer oil:

It is formulated to serve as a fluid media in quenching

operation.
 Function of heat transfer oil…
• High flash point.
• Oxidation stability.
• Controlled volatility.
• Thermal stability.
Transformer oil: These are di-electric oils used in oiled filled
transformer, some high voltage capacitors and circuit breakers.
 Function of transformer oil…

• Prevention of electric discharges between

the coils.
• Removal of heating generated by
transformer.