It is often stated that viscosity is the most important property of a lubricant, and with good reason. Film thickness—the separation between moving machine surfaces—is primarily dictated by the lubricant's viscosity under operating loads, speeds, and temperatures. For...
Fuel economy is a crucial aspect of modern vehicle maintenance and fleet management. With rising fleet fuel costs and ever-tighter environmental regulations, achieving better fuel efficiency has never been so important. The lubricant in use is often an overlooked...
Additives can enhance, suppress, or add new properties to oils. Defoamants, dispersants, and detergents are no exceptions. This trio of additives can be found in most finished lubricants, albeit in varying ratios. Let's discuss the main differences among these three,...
Pour Point Temperature – What Is It? The Pour Point Temperature is the temperature below which an oil loses its flow characteristics. It can be found in most Product Data Sheet (PDS) for an oil and in "Section 9: Physical and Chemical Properties" of the Safety Data...
Antioxidants are additives that increase the oxidative resistance of the base oil to prolong lubricant life. They help prevent or reduce lubricant oxidation and work collaboratively with other additives in finished lubricants. Understanding Oxidation: The Basis for...
Look at the product data sheet for any full synthetic industrial lubricating oil, and you will likely discover that the base oil is a polyalphaolefin (PAO). These lubricants have become the backbone of high-performance lubricants for the better part of 50 years, with...
A lot has already been written about food grade lubricants, so a summary of what they are is a good place to start before taking a closer look at some of the issues relating to their use and the ongoing concerns in this area. Regulation of Food Grade Lubricants...
In the intricate world of lubrication and tribology, the 4-ball test has become a core experimental procedure and is commonly listed as a performance parameter on lubricant and grease data sheets. These tests are designed to measure friction and a lubricant's wear...
Lubricants keep the world turning. Once something moves, a lubricant should be present to reduce friction or wear between the surfaces. But what makes lubricants so unique in our industry? Is it just the base oil? No, this is where the power of lubricant additives...
As the name suggests, antiwear additives help to prevent wear in one way or another. However, what makes them unique compared to other additives in lubricants? Why are they used more predominantly in specific applications than other applications? This article explores...
