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MULTI-FUNCTIONS OF LUBRICANTS
Lubricants can be used for many things alone, or combined with each other. Alongside the primary function of a lubricant - maximum power with minimal friction and wear and tear - often come secondary functions, e.g. they are water and chemical-repellant, and provide corrosion protection. To prolong the life of a machine, rather, its components, regular maintenance together with the use of the correct lubricant is of great importance. Lubricants enhance the efficiency and service life of machines, by preventing friction and corrosion and premature wear. They provide good heat removal, absorb vibrations, prevent penetration of solids and fluids into sealing joints thus reducing repair and maintenance costs. As each specialist lubricant is for specific applications, we recommend you contact our qualified consultants, to find a professional and cost-effective solution together.
Oils
An oil-based lubricant is always recommended when, due to high revolutions or high temperatures, a grease lubricant is not suitable. Lubricating oils provide the necessary heat dissipation when frictional or external heat is generated, and their high viscosity also ensures good lubricant distribution and thus keeps the lubrication points clean. They are made from mineral or synthetic oils, for specific applications when combined with different additives. They are differentiated by blend, thermal characteristics, lubricity and manufacturing cost.
Base oil raffinate
Apart from vegetable oils eg. rapeseed oil all base oils for lubricants and hydraulic oils, as well as fuel, heating oil, bitumen and also many synthetics (plastic) are extracted from petroleum.
STRUCTURE OF HIGH PERFORMANCE OILS - First raffinate
Resultant product, petroleum. Oldest extraction method for lubricants and hydraulic oils, many standard products are still raffinate today.
Second raffinate
Resultant product waste oil.
ADDITIVES
The stringent requirements for lubricants can only met with oils with special oil-soluble additives. The type and quantity of the additive must be precisely matched for each respective application. The amount of additive can be less than 1% and up to 25%. The performance of the fully formulated lubricant must be proven through extensive standardised and practical tests.
ADDITIVE STRUCTURE Effective surface additives
Many additives are so-called surfactants that can, in principle, be compared to a match: the active ingredients are concentrated in the match head, these are called the “polar group”. They will attract, water, acids, metals or soot particles. This may result in the formation of fur-like films on the substances mentioned which have certain effects (e.g. prevention of agglomeration and deposition, protection against wear and corrosion, neutralisation of acids). The shaft of the match consists of a hydrocarbon particle (R) and only enables the solubility of the additive in the base oil.
Oil-improving additive
Other types of additive consist only of hydrocarbons of a special high-molecular structure, these are "non-polar". These are not attracted to water, acids, rust particles or metals, but only affect the oil.
