Information About

Lubricants





PURPOSE

Lubricants perform the following key functions.
Keep moving parts apart
Reduce friction
Transfer heat
Carry away contaminants & debris
Transmit power
Protect against wear
Prevent corrosion
Allow for easier passage into the anal cavity
so that luke baily and nathen jones dont get a sore arse after sex and hello my name is luke


HISTORY

Romans used rags dipped in animal fat to lubricate wagon wheels however the science of lubrication (tribology) really only took off with the industrial revolution in the 19th century.


GENERAL COMPOSITION

Lubricants are generally composed of a majority of base oil and a minority of additives to impart desirable characteristics.


TYPES OF LUBRICANTS


Liquid including emulsions and suspensions
Solid
Greases
Pastes

Liquid Lubricants

Liquid lubricants may be characterized in many different ways. One of the most common ways is by the type of base oil used. Following are the most common types.
Water
Mineral oils
Vegetable (natural oil)
Synthetic oils
Others

Note that although generally lubricants are based on one type of base oil or another it is quite possible to use mixtures of the base oils to meet performance requirements.

'Water'

Water can be used on its own or as a major component in combination with one of the other base oils.

'Mineral Oil'

This term is used to encompass lubricating base oil derived from crude oil. API designates several types of lubricant base oil identified as:

Group I - Saturates < 90% and/or Sulphur >0.03% and Viscosity Index > 80 to <120

Group II – Saturates >= 90% and Sulphur <0.03% and Viscosity Index >= 80 to <=120

Group III – Saturates >= 90% Sulphur <0.03% and Viscosity Index >= 120

The lubricant industry commonly extends this group terminology to include

Group I+ with a Viscosity Index of 100 -105

Group II+ with a Viscosity Index of 110 - 120

Group III+ with a Viscosity Index of >= 140

Group IV – Poly alpha olefins (PAO)

Group V – All others not included above

'Vegetable (natural) oils'

These are primarily triglyceride esters derived from plants and animals. For lubricant base oil use the vegetable derived materials are preferred. Common ones include high oleic canola oil, palm oil, sunflower seed oil and rapeseed oil from vegetable and Tall oil from animal sources. Many vegetable oils are often hydrolyzed to yield the acids which are subsequently combined selectively to form specialist synthetic esters.

''Synthetic Oils''
Poly alpha olefins (PAO) see Polyolefin
Synthetic Esters
Polyalkylene glycols (PAG)
Phosphate Esters
Alkylated Naphthalenes (AN)
Silicate esters
Ionic fluids

Note: In USA certain Group III base stocks may be designated as synthetic.

''Solid lubricants''

Graphite

Molybdenum disulphide

Teflon


ADDITIVES


A large number of additives are used to impart performance characteristics to the lubricants. The main families of additives are:
Anti-oxidants
Anti-wear
Metal Deactivators
Corrosion inhibitors
Rust inhibitors
Friction modifiers
Extreme Pressure
Anti-foaming
Demulsifying / Emulsifying


APPLICATION BY FLUID TYPES


Automotive
Engine oils
Petrol (Gas) engine oils
Diesel engine oils
2-stroke engine oils
Automatic transmission fluids
Gearbox fluids
Brake fluids
Hydraulic fluids

Industrial
Hydraulic fluids
Compressor oils
Gear oils

Aviation
Gas Turbine engine oils
Piston engine oils

Marine
Top engine oil
Crankcase fluids
Stern tube lubricants


DISPOSAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES



SOCIETIES AND INDUSTRY BODIES


API – American Petroleum Institute

STLE – Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers

NLGI – National Lubricating Grease institute

SAE – Society of Automotive Engineers

ILMA – Independent lubricant manufacturer association


MAJOR PUBLICATIONS


Peer reviewed

Tribology Transactions

Journal of Synthetic Lubricants

Trade periodicals

Tribology and Lubrication Technology

Lubes n’ Greases

Compoundings

Chemical Market Review

Machinery lubrication

''Prior text below: It has several errors in it that I hope will get corrected in due course.''

A lubricant (colloquially, '''lube''', although this usually refers to Personal Lubricant s) is a substance (usually a liquid) introduced between two moving surfaces to reduce the Friction and Wear between them. An understanding of how lubricating systems work is crucial to the selection of a lubricant for a particular application. Any surface contains irregularities, even when polished to a mirror finish. These irregularities may not be visible, except under a microscope. A lubricant provides a protective film which allows for two touching surfaces to be separated, thus lessening the friction between them.

Typically lubricants contain 90% base oil (most often Petroleum fractions, called Mineral Oil s) and less than 10% additives. Vegetable Oil s or synthetic liquids such as hydrogenated Polyolefin s, Ester s, Silicone , Fluorocarbon s and many others are sometimes used as base oils. Additives deliver reduced Friction and Wear , increased Viscosity , resistance to Corrosion and Oxidation , aging or contamination, etc.

Non-liquid lubricants include Grease , powders (dry Graphite , PTFE , Molybdenum Disulfide , etc.), teflon tape used in plumbing, air cushion and others. Alternative way to reduce friction and wear is to use bearings such as Ball Bearing s, Roller Bearing s or Air Bearing s or to use sound, in the case of Acoustic Lubrication .

Lubricants are also added to some Fuel s. Sulfur impurities in fuels also provide some Lubrication properties, which has to be taken in account when switching to a low-sulfur Diesel ; Biodiesel is a popular diesel fuel additive providing additional lubricity.

In addition to automotive and industrial applications, lubricants are used for many other purposes, including personal hygiene, e.g. K-Y Jelly , often used as a Sexual Lubricant , bio- Medical applications (e.g. lubricants for Artificial Joint s) and others.


RECYCLING


Worldwide, more than 50 million tons of lubricants are consumed annually. Many lubricants are Oil s or Grease s. Automotive Engine lubricants comprise approximately 50% and Hydraulic Fluid s with Transmission Oil s 30% of lubricants volume-wise.

In developed nations, lubricants contribute to nearly 1/4 of total Pollution released to environment. Spent lubricants are referred to as used oil or waste oil. As a liquid waste, one liter of used oil can contaminate one million liters of water. In most countries, there are efficient collection processes for used lubricants and the majority of this is used directly as a heavy Fuel Oil . Air Emissions of Heavy Metal s have been identified as a problem1 with this recycling method. Other recycling methods include regeneration for re-use as a lubricant base oil, or in a more recent technology development, Thermally Cracked to produce Gasoil or Diesel Fuel . The Aldwich processing plant at Kemaman , Malaysia uses thermal cracking technology in conjunction with the ROBYS(tm) aftertreatment process to purify the diesel fuel.


REFERENCE


{Link without Title} Boughton and Horvath, 2003, Environmental Assessment of Used Oil Management Methods, California Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Toxic Substances Control