Lubrication Mechanism

Thin film (or) Boundary Lubrication:

In this type of lubrication a thin film of lubricant is absorbed on the surface and held by
Van der Waals forces. This type of lubrication is done when continuous film of lubricants cannot persist and
direct metal to metal contact is possible. When the lubricant is not viscous enough to generate a film of
sufficient thickness for the separation of surfaces under heavy loads, friction is reduced by thin film
lubrication. In this thin layer lubricant binds with the molecule of metal surface & can’t be removed
easily. These adsorbed layers avoid direct metal to metal contact. Some peaks may have higher thickness than
the film of lubricant which results in wearing and tearing. Hence the chemical or physical forces on some
metal surfaces would avoid the direct contact of metals and absorb a thin layer of lubricating oil. The co-
efficient of friction is reduced due to oiling. Mineral oil, blended oil with some vegetable or animal oils is used
for thin film lubrication.

This will happen when:-

 Shaft starts moving
 Viscosity of oil is very low
 Speed is very low & Load is very high

Vegetable oil and their soaps have good property of adsorption

but they break at high temp and mineral oil have of oiliness
therefore blended oil is used for thin film lubrication.

2. Fluid Film (or) Hydrodynamic Lubrication:

This type of lubrication is also known as thick film
lubrication. It is carried out with the help of
liquid lubricants. In fluid film lubrication the two sliding
surfaces are separated by a thick film of
about 1000Å which is applied to prevent direct surface
to surface contact. Wearing and tearing
of metals is minimized.

This friction is quite common in the case of shaft running at a fair speed in a well lubricated bearing with
moderate load. This type of lubrication is done in delicate Instruments like watch, clock, guns, and sewing
machines and in scientific instruments.
Extreme Pressure Lubrication:

It involves chemical action on the part of lubricant. When the moving surfaces are under very high pressure and
speed conditions, high local temperature is generated. This high temperature can change properties of
lubricants due to decomposition & lubricant may evaporate also. Hence special additives called extreme
pressure additive are blended with lubricating oil to form more durable film to with stand high temperature and
pressure. Extreme pressure lubricants contains organic compounds having active groups such as chlorine,
sulphur and phosphorus, such compound react with surface at high temperature and form metallic
chloride, sulphide or phosphide. These layers can withstand high temperature, high
pressure because of their strength and high melting point. These additives combined with
the metallic surfaces with high temperature to form metallic chlorides.

Chlorinated esters, Sulfurized oils and tricresyl phosphates are used as extreme pressure additives.

Difference Between fluid film lubrication & boundary lubrication

Fluid film lubrication Thin film Boundary lubrication
Lubricants having low viscosity are used Lubricants having high viscosity are used in
1. 1.
in this lubrication. this lubrication.
The thickness of lubricating oil film is The thickness of lubricating oil film is less
2. 2.
more than 100Å than 100Å.
The thin film of lubricating oil is adsorbed by
These are used as such no metallic
3. 3. physical or chemical forces at the metallic
surfaces are required for adsorption.
surface.
The load applied is sufficient to keep The load applied is carried by the layers of
4. 4.
apart the moving surface. adsorbed lubricants.
These are used in the machines working These are used in the machines working
5. 5.
under light load & high speed. under heavy load & low speed.
For example: Watches, clocks, gums, For example: Rollers, Gears, Tractors,
6. 6.
sewing machines. Railway track joint.

The lubricant oil must have following characteristics:-

1. It should have long hydrocarbon chain.

2. It should have active group or atoms.
3. It should have good oiliness.
4. It should have high viscosity index.
5. It should have low pour point.
6. It should have good resistance to heat & oxidation
SAPONIFICATION VALUE
“Saponification value of oil is defined as the number of milligram of KOH required to saponify fatty
material present in one gram of oil”.

Significance:-
 Saponification value gives an estimation of non-fatty impurities present in an oil fat.

 Saponification value is used to distinguish between vegetable and animal oil, fatty and mineral oils.

 Saponification value is used to identify given fatty oil, because each fatty oil has its own characteristic
value.

Determination:-

 Take 2-3 gm oil+50ml KOH+50ml solvent in titration flask.

 Flask is fitted with air condenser & refluxed for 30mins.

 After cooling 8 drops of phenolphthalein is added & titrated against N/10 HCl till disappearance of pink
colour.

 Same titration is done without oil called ‘Blanc Titration’

Calculations :-

Let Weight of oil sample taken =W gm

Volume of KOH added = 50ml

Volume of solvent added = 50ml

Volume of HCL used for oil sample &solvent = A ml

Volume of HCL used for solvent alone = B ml

Volume of HCL equivalent to KOH used in

Saponification of wg of oil sample = (B – A)ml
Saponification value of the oil

Saponification value = Vol. of KOH (ml) ×Normality ×Eq. wt. of KOH

= (B – A) x 1 x 56/W
NEUTRALIZATION NUMBER (ACID VALUE):-
Lubricating oils acidity or alkalinity is determined in terms of neutralization number.

The neutralization number represents the total acid number (TAN).

“It is defined as the number of milligrams of KOH required to neutralize the free acid in 1gram of the
oil”.

Acid value gives an idea about the age of the oil because the acid content or value of fatty acids increases
with time due to hydrolysis with moisture.

DETERMINATION OF ACID VALUE:-

 Taken 3ml oil+50ml solvent+5 drops of phenolphthalein in titration flask, then shaken.

 Taken alcoholic KOH in burette & started titration.

 Appearance of light pink colour is end point.

 Same procedure is repeated for ‘Blanc Titration’.

CALCULATION:-
Weight of oil sample =W gm

Volume of alc. KOH used in oil titration = A ml

Volume of alc. KOH used in the Blanc titration = B ml

Volume of alc. KOH used against the acid

present in W gm of oil = (A-B) ml.

Acid value (TAN) = volume of KOH (ml) * Normality *Eq. wt. of KOH.

= (A –B) x 1 x 56 / W

“Acid value of good oil should be less than oil”

What is steam emulsification number?
Steam emulsification number is the time (in seconds) required for an emulsion of lubricating oil and water
to separate into distinct layers at 90ºC.

Emulsification is the property of an oil to get mixed with water forming a dispersed phase of oil in water or
water in oil.

The emulsification property of oils is expressed in terms of stream emulsification number and is determined
by A.S.T.M (American society for testing material) method.

Determination of steam emulsification number

Steam of 100ºC is bubbled through 20mL of lubricating oil till the oil’s temperature reaches 90ºC. The time
required (in seconds) for water (formed due to condensation of steam) and oil to separate into two distinct
layers is noted as steam emulsification number.

The significance of steam emulsification number

o Good lubricating oil has low steam emulsification number; so that when it comes in contact with
water it does not form an emulsion.
o The emulsion has a tendency to collect dirt, dust etc which reduces the lubricating property.
Vegetable oils have high stream emulsification number.

o Oil having high steam emulsification number is preferred for preparation of lubrication emulsification
like cutting fluids.