Lubricants
by: Steve Difabio
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Word Count: 644
From engine oils to guns, lubricants (often referred to as lubes) are used in almost every imaginable mechanical system. Contrary to popular belief, lubricants carry out a wide variety of functions apart from friction reduction.
Reducing surface fatigue
Lubricants are designed to reduce surface fatigue by keeping moving parts apart, a lubricant acts as a buffer between moving parts. Lubricants can achieve this by various mechanisms, the first is forming a thin physical layer between moving parts. This process is often termed as hydrodynamic lubrication. When the temperature of the moving surface is very high, the lubricant acts as a small cushion to transmit the force of impact and this termed as hydro-elastic lubrication.
Friction Reduction
Friction reduction is one of the most basic functions of lubricants; lubricants create a layer over all moving parts and reduce friction. Friction reduction ensures longer life for moving parts and also reduces unwanted heating of surfaces. The friction reduction properties of lubricants are useful for protecting machines, engines and other mechanical surfaces.
Improve mechanical movement
Friction reduction and improved movement are usually interlinked, but lubricants are used in guns and archery equipment to improve movement. In most cases, lubricants serve a dual purpose and protect the guns from rust and also ensure proper movement.
Carry away debris
Apart from friction reduction, lubricants also help engines and other mechanical fuel systems remove unwanted debris and contaminants. Over a period of time, mechanical friction produces unwanted debris that can cause further damage to the engine; this is why lubricants are frequently replaced to remove unwanted mechanical debris from engines and other mechanical systems.
Transfer heat
Liquid lubricants have a high specific heat capacity and compared to gas and gel lubricants, liquid lubricants are ideal for systems that reach high temperatures. A typical example is turbochargers, turbochargers reach very high temperature in a very short span of time and only liquid lubricants can handle the high temperature rise and fall effectively. However, lubricants used in high heat systems need to be changed on a regular basis to reduce clogging of oil ways, as the lubricants tend to ‘stick’ to the oil ways blocking them over a period of time. Grease and gel based lubricants also prevent high temperatures but are not ideal for use in high performance systems like turbochargers.
Protect against wear and tear
Friction reduction helps reduce engine debris and also protects moving parts. Apart form reducing heat and friction, proper lubrication ensures that wear and tear is kept to a minimum. Chemically, lubricants are a combination of more than one chemicals and liquids, the base oil makes up a bulk of the lubricant while the remaining is a combination of more than one chemical ingredient. The additives are designed to protect and lubricate the mechanical parts. In addition, lubricants like lanolin are also corrosion inhibitors, protecting against rust, salt and acids. Interestingly, water is also a major constituent of lubricants.
Applications of Microlon lubricants
As the leading manufacturer of quality lubricants, Microlon has lubricants that are designed for everything from engines to sports equipment. Unlike other lubricants, each Microlon product is designed for a particular purpose. For example, Microlon has a separate set of lubricants for sports equipment that are designed specifically for sports like archery and fishing. Unlike engines, sports equipment is a combination of plastics, fibre and other new age metals and Microlon’s lubricants are especially designed for sporting equipment. Similarly, Microlon has a different set of lubricants for small engines and diesel engines. The amazing variety in lubricants that Microlon has to offer has added to the immense popularity of Microlon lubricants, and Microlon is now a 40 year old company and has overseas Japanese distributors.
For more information on lubricants and to buy lubricants for a variety of purposes visit www.microlonproducts.com
About the Author
Steve Difabio is the author of this article on automotive. Find more information about Fuel System Treatmenthere.
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