A lubricant is a substance that is added in order to reduce the friction that occurs between moving surfaces. As such, lubricants can be used in order to distribute heat and for transporting foreign particles. Lowering friction is referred to as lubricity. Any effective lubricant must have the same characteristics. In order for a lubricant to be effective it must have a high boiling point, low freezing point, high viscosity index, resistance to oxidation as well as corrosion, and be stable at whatever temperature it is to be exposed to while in use.
When you consider motor oil, for example, the biggest application of such a lubricant is to protect the internal combustion engine that is located inside powered equipment and motor vehicles. Usually, a lubricant has 90% base oil and less than 10% additives. Base oils are usually petroleum fractions that are commonly known as mineral oils. In some cases vegetable oils, silicones, esters, hydrogenated polyolefines, and fluorocarbons are used as base oils. However additives are also important because they help to reduce wear and tear as well as friction, they improve viscosity index, and that means that there will be superior resistance to oxidation, aging, and corrosion.
A fuel such as gasoline can have lubricants such as 2-cycle oils that are mixed with them, mainly because of the fact that they possess a low lubricity. Some sulfur impurities that are located in fuel offer some lubrication properties as well. Biodiesel is considered to be a good form of diesel fuel additive that provides extra lubricity.
However, not all lubricants come in liquid form. Some are non-liquid such as dry graphite, tungsten disulphide, Molybdenum sulphide, PtFe grease, and Teflon tape, all of which are commonly used in plumbing applications. Dry lubricants consist of graphite, tungsten disulphide, and Molybdenum sulphide and they are all able to provide lubrication at temperatures that exceed those that oil-based and liquid lubricants are able to operate at.
Lubrication can be used in many other applications besides those we have already covered. They can also reduce the friction as bearings like ball bearings, air bearings, and roller bearings. All of these also need internal lubrication. Acoustic lubrication uses sound as a lubricant.
Other than industrial applications that use lubricants for the automotive industry, lubricants can also be utilized in medical applications such as in the case of artificial joints and their lubricants, or in cooking, when lubricants are used to prevent food sticking to a frying pan. There are also lubricants that are used for personal reasons.
Besides industrial applications like lubricants for
A fuel such as gasoline can have lubricants such as 2-cycle oils that are mixed with them, mainly because of the fact that they possess a low lubricity. Some sulfur impurities that are located in fuel offer some lubrication properties as well. Biodiesel is considered to be a good form of diesel fuel additive that provides extra lubricity.
However, not all lubricants come in liquid form. Some are non-liquid such as dry graphite, tungsten disulphide, Molybdenum sulphide, PtFe grease, and Teflon tape, all of which are commonly used in plumbing applications. Dry lubricants consist of graphite, tungsten disulphide, and Molybdenum sulphide and they are all able to provide lubrication at temperatures that exceed those that oil-based and liquid lubricants are able to operate at.
Lubrication can be used in many other applications besides those we have already covered. They can also reduce the friction as bearings like ball bearings, air bearings, and roller bearings. All of these also need internal lubrication. Acoustic lubrication uses sound as a lubricant.
Other than industrial applications that use lubricants for the automotive industry, lubricants can also be utilized in medical applications such as in the case of artificial joints and their lubricants, or in cooking, when lubricants are used to prevent food sticking to a frying pan. There are also lubricants that are used for personal reasons.
Besides industrial applications like lubricants for
Lubrication can be used in many other applications besides those we have already covered. They can also reduce the friction as bearings like ball bearings, air bearings, and roller bearings. All of these also need internal lubrication. Acoustic lubrication uses sound as a lubricant.
Other than industrial applications that use lubricants for the automotive industry, lubricants can also be utilized in medical applications such as in the case of artificial joints and their lubricants, or in cooking, when lubricants are used to prevent food sticking to a frying pan. There are also lubricants that are used for personal reasons.
Besides industrial applications like lubricants for the automotive industry, lubricants can also be used for medical purposes (artificial joints and their lubricants), cooking (prevention of food sticking by way of fats and oils in frying pans) and personal lubrication.
Man uses lubricants in many industries and for many reasons. Of course, most of us are familiar with lubricants being necessary for our motor vehicles to keep them operating properly, but they are also found in many other aspects of our lives. Cooking and medical applications are just two alternative examples indicating the wide use of lubrication.
About the Author:
Atlas Oil and Chemical are a Lubricants Supplier based in Benoni, South Africa. For additional info in regards to Rimula R6 please visit our website.