When we walk into a pharmacy, there are thousands of items. Some of them do the same job but have different names and price points, while others are specialty items designed to solve a particular problem at a slightly elevated price point. Some of these may not be...
Lubricants
Lubrication’s Hall of Fame: Meet the Top 10 Pioneers
In 1966, at the height of the "swinging sixties" movement, the world of lubrication, friction, and wear finally received worldwide recognition as a scientific entity responsible for continued machine health and asset longevity. In retrospect, such recognition was long...
Gear Oil: Types, Applications, and Benefits
Gears are used in all aspects of life, from bicycles to tiny watch gears, car transmissions, and even highly specialized surgical equipment. Gears keep the world moving. However, when they move, they often rub against each other, and if this friction is not managed,...
Innovative Technology to Improve the Efficiency of Heat Transfer Systems
Heat Transfer Systems (HTS), also known as thermal fluid heating systems or hot oil systems, operate by circulating a fluid through a closed-loop system to transfer heat to and from various process equipment. These systems are widely used in industries for...
The Great Debate: Does Heat Truly Halve Your Lubricant’s Lifespan?
One of the first theoretical lessons you learn when you dive into the world of lubrication and lubricant analysis is that temperature generally harms these compounds. This is true, and many trainers in the area have at least a few slides dedicated to this point in...
Stop Guessing: How to Determine the Right Oil Change Interval
Lubricants encounter negative influences throughout their working life, including load-induced shear stress, thermal degradation, water contamination, aeration, wear metal catalyzing, and contamination from dirt, chemicals, and incompatible lubricants and fluids....
Downtime Disaster: The Lubricant Mix-Up That Shut Down Production
Lubricants are the lifeblood of machinery, and every decision, from selection, purchase, storage, dispensing, and health management, plays a critical role in ensuring the reliable operation of essential machines. A minor oversight can lead to significant downtime,...
Flash Point Explained: Why It Matters More Than You Think
In my experience, flash point is one of the most misunderstood numbers on a product data sheet. Most people ignore it, as it is rare for oil system temperatures to approach the flash point range (typically >200°C). When it does become a concern, there is often...
How to Calculate the Viscosity Index of a Lubricant
Calculating a lubricant's Viscosity Index (VI) requires understanding how the viscosity changes with temperature. The VI is a numerical value that indicates how stable a lubricant's viscosity is with temperature changes. A higher VI means the lubricant maintains its...
Viscosity Index Improvers Explained
What are Viscosity Index Improvers? Viscosity Index Improvers (VIIs) are additives that help maintain the viscosity of lubricating oils across a wide temperature range, ensuring consistent performance. This article will explore the nature of viscosity index improvers...