LUBRICANTS AND

LUBRICATION REGIMES
Lubrication-Contents
• Petroleum
• Lubricants
• Lubricant Properties
• Lubrication Regimes
• Hydrodynamic Lubrication
• Elasto-Hydrodynamic Lubrication
• Boundary Lubrication
• Solid Lubrication
• Hydrostatic Lubrication
 Manufacture of lubricants
 Crude is distilled in atmospheric column to remove light
ends like gasoline, kerosene etc
 Reduced crude is then distilled under vacuum to get base
stocks of different viscosities
 Lubricant consists of base stock and additives
 The base stock is sometimes referred to as lubricating oil
or lube
 Base stock is petroleum based or synthetic
 Petroleum based oils are widely used and mainly
considered here
Crude Oil Breakdown
• LPG
• GASOLINE (PETROL)
• JET FUEL (AVIATION FUEL)
• KEROSENE (STOVE OIL)
• DIESEL OIL
• FURNACE OIL
• HEAVY FUEL OIL
• LUBRICATING OIL
• ASPHALT
 Base Stock

 Petroleum base stocks are a mixture of different

hydrocarbons

 The physicochemical properties needed in application are

not adequately met by base stocks alone and different
additives are needed to enhance the properties

 Additives are also extensively used to improve tribological

properties
 Base oil properties
Wear Corrosion
Properties
Low
Temperature
Behavior
Chemical
Activity
Oxidation Acid and Sludge
Friction Viscosity Formation
Stability
Reduction
Base Oil
Properties
Demulsifying Surface
Activity Volatility
Ability
Solvency Residue
Foaming Formation
Tendency

Additive
Compatibility Seal Compatibility

Source: Mr. Imamdar, Lubrizol

 Base oil properties
Viscosity Index 97
Flash point ºC D-92 252

Total acid number, mgKOH/g D-664 <0.05

Sulphur, % mass D-129 0.0178
Colour D-1500 1.5
KV @ 100ºC, cSt D-445 10.72
KV @ 40ºC, cSt D-445 92.77
Pour point, ºC D-97 -3
Evaporation Loss D-5800B 4.1
Saturate content ASTM D2007 90
BASE OIL AND ENGINE OIL
 LUBRICANTS

MINERAL OILS GREASES

SOLIDS
& SYNTHETICS (Semi-Fluids)
 LUBRICANTS
A lubricant is a substance introduced to reduce friction
between moving surfaces. It may also have the function of
transporting foreign particles.

A good lubricant possesses the following characteristics:

 High boiling point.

 Low freezing point.
 High viscosity index.
 Thermal stability.
 Corrosion prevention.
 High resistance to oxidation
Types of Lubricants
Mineral Oils
Naphthenic
Paraffinic
Synthetic oils
Alkyl Benzene
Polyolefin (Polyalkene, Eg :- Polypropylene)
Polyol Esters
Polyalkene Glycols
Functions of a Lubricant
 Reduce Friction
 Provide a Fluid Film
 Lubricate Bearing
 Seal Voids
 Remove Heat
 Remove Particles, Debris
Properties of Lubricants
 Viscosity
 Pour Point
 Flash/Fire Point
 Vapor Pressure
 Miscibility
 Oxidation stability
 Foaming
 Water, ash and sulphur content
Properties of Lubricants
Foaming
Increased mixing with atmospheric air increases oxidation and related
effects. Anti foam agents (silicon based defoamers) are generally used to
reduce foaming.

Vapor Pressure
Vapor pressure or equilibrium vapor pressure is the pressure of a vapor in
thermodynamic equilibrium in a closed system.

Demulsibility
Indicates ability of oil to separate water from oil and is critical in the case
of turbine oils.
Properties of Lubricants
Flash Point

The flash point of a volatile material is the lowest temperature at which it

can vaporize to form an ignitable mixture in air. Measuring a flash point
requires an ignition source. At the flash point, the vapor may cease to burn when
the source of ignition is removed.

Fire Point

The fire point, a higher temperature, is defined as the temperature at which

the vapor continues to burn after being ignited. Neither the flash point nor the
fire point is dependent on the temperature of the ignition source, which is much higher.
Properties of Lubricants
Miscibility

It is the property of liquids to mix in all proportions, forming a homogeneous

solution.
Oxidation stability
The chemical union of oils and oxygen makes the oils less stable. The chemical
reactions make the oil more corrosive by the formations of acids. Rate of
oxidation increases with temperature, pressure etc.
Pour Point
The pour point of a liquid is the lowest temperature at which it will pour or
flow under prescribed conditions. It is a rough indication of the lowest
temperature at which oil can be pumped.
Properties of Lubricants

Water content: Water is deleterious causing oxidation and corrosion. Control

critical for hydraulic and turbine oils

Ash content: Indicates overall metal content due to additives and wear debris

Sulphur content: Sulphur in base oil limited by specification. Also indicates

sulphur containing additives

Properties of Lubricants

Viscosity Index
It is a lubricating oil quality indicator, an arbitrary measure for the
change of kinematic viscosity with temperature. The VI was
developed by Dean and Davis, in 1929.
VISCOSITY INDEX
LUBRICANTS
Greases

 Oils that are thickened with solids

(Calcium stearate, sodium soaps,
lithium etc.)

 Do not flow out easily

 Remain in the bearing system

 Applied to mechanisms that can

only be lubricated not very
frequently
Greases

• Initial viscosity will be high

• Shear force reduces the viscosity

• Viscosity reduces to the level that of

the base oil

• This change in viscosity is called

shear thinning

• Graphite and molybdenum

disulphide
EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE ON
VISCOSITY
B
ln   A 
T
Where A and B are constants depending on the
properties of the fluid
 - Viscosity of the fluid
T- Temperature of the fluid
EFFECT OF PRESSURE ON
VISCOSITY

  0e p

0 - Absolute viscosity at Atmospheric Pressure

 - Pressure coefficient of viscosity

Applicable in the case of most of the mineral oils

 Specificity of a lubricant

 Each lubricant is specific to application

 Lack of correlation between laboratory tests
and real systems
 The correlation problem is worse for
tribological tests
LUBRICATION REGIMES
 Elasto
Hydro Hydro
dynamic dynamic
LUBRICATION
REGIMES

Boundary Mixed
 LUBRICATION REGIMES
Hydrodynamic (HDL): The loads are taken entirely by
the fluid.
Elastohydrodynamic (EHDL) : The loads are taken
partially by the fluid and the elastic deformation of the
asperities.
Boundary: The loads are taken predominantly by
asperity contacts protected by thin fluid films,
absorbed molecules or oxide layers.
Mixed : Transition between boundary and EHDL/HDL.
LUBRICATION REGIMES
 FRICTION COEFFICIENT FOR
VARIOUS LUBRICATION REGIMES

UNLUBRICATED

1.0
BOUNDARY

ELASTO
0.1 HYDRO
COEFF. OF DYNAMIC
FRICTION
0.01
HYDRO
DYNAMIC

0.001

LUBRICATION REGIME
 WEAR RATES FOR VARIOUS
LUBRICATION REGIMES

SEIZURE

WEAR
RATE
UNLUBRICATED
ELASTO
HYDRO
HYDRO
DYNAMIC
DYNAMIC

BOUNDARY

RELATIVE LOAD
Stribeck Curve

(Hersey Number)
HYDRODYNAMIC LUBRICATION
• Mechanism
- Oil film is maintained by relative motion of the two
surfaces
- Operates due to hydrodynamic action
- Continuous unbroken film of oil
• Types of Bearings
(A) Hydrodynamic Thrust Bearing - For Axial Loads
- Tilted Pad Bearing
- Rayleigh Step Bearing
(B) Journal Bearing - For Transverse Loads
 HYDRODYNAMIC
JOURNAL BEARING
Courtesy : Prof. Harish Hirani, IIT Delhi,
Source : NPTEL
HYDRODYNAMIC
JOURNAL BEARING-Application

CRANK AND PISTON

PIN BEARINGS
HYDRODYNAMIC
JOURNAL BEARING

Source : bearings.machinedesign.com
HYDRODYNAMIC
JOURNAL BEARING-Application
HYDRODYNAMIC
JOURNAL BEARING-Application

Source : https://www.comsol.com/blogs/predicting-cavitation-in-journal-bearings/