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TYPES OF LUBRICANTS

Tribology is concerned with the scientific characterisation of friction, wear and lubrication and the development of technologies serving to optimise frictional processes.

Tribology
Types of Lubricants

Types of lubricants

Tribology is concerned with the scientific characterisation of friction, wear and lubrication and the development of technologies serving to optimise frictional processes. A distinction is made between "tribomechanical" and "tribochemical" effects.

Oils

Oils dissipate heat well from the lubricating point. In addition, they have a notedly good creep and wetting behaviour. Therefore oil lubrication is often used at high temperatures or high speeds of rotation. Typical fields of application are gears, chains, friction bearings, hydraulics and compressors.

Greases

If, for structural reasons, no oil lubrication is possible or if a cooling function is not required, a lubricating grease is used in most cases. Greases consist of a base oil that is bound by a thickener (soap). This ensures that the lubricant remains at the lubricating point. There, it ensures permanently effective protection against friction and wear and seals the lubricating point against external influences such as moisture and foreign matter. Greases are often used for rolling and friction bearings, spindles, fittings, seals, guides, but also at chains and gears.

Pastes

The structure of pastes corresponds in principle to that of greases. However, the share of solid lubricants is clearly higher. Thus a reliable lubricating, parting and corrosion protection effect is ensured even when used under extreme temperature and pressure conditions and aggressive media. Pastes are used at screw threaded connections as well as for pressing in pins and bolts, at gearwheels, chucks, hinges and plain bearings.