CHCX02

MODULE - 4

LUBRICANTS

Dr. S. Bhagavathy
Department of Chemistry
 LUBRICANTS

Friction and wear – lubricants - classification

Functions and mechanism of lubrication (thick film and thin

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film)
properties of lubricating oils: viscosity and viscosity index;
Flash and fire-point, Cloud and pour point, oiliness,
emulsification number, volatility, carbon residue, aniline point
Semisolid lubricant: greases and waxes
Solid lubricant: graphite and molybdenum disulphide

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 LUBRICANTS
Lubricants are substances introduced in between two moving or
sliding surfaces of objects in a view to reduce the frictional
resistance and there by reducing wear and tear of the objects.

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Functions of a lubricant
(1) Reduces wear and tear by preventing direct contact of metals
(2) Reduces loss of energy in the form of heat (acts as coolant)
(3) Increases efficiency of the machine.
(4) Reduces expansion of the metals
(5) Reduces maintenance and running cost of the machine
(6) Acts as seal to prevent entry of dust and corrosive gases.
(7) Minimises corrosion

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 CLASSIFICATION OF LUBRICANTS

1. Liquid lubricants
Ex. Vegetable oils, mineral oils, etc
2. Semi-solid lubricants

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Ex. Greases, vaselines, etc
3. Solid lubricants
Ex. Graphite, molybdenum disulphide
4. Synthetic lubricants
Ex. Polyalkylene glycol, almasol, etc

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 LIQUID LUBRICANTS

(1) Animal & Vegetable oils

• High oiliness
• costly
• undergoes oxidation easily

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• gets thickened in air

(2) Mineral or petroleum oils

• carbon varies between C12 to C50
• cheaper (available in abundance)
• does not oxidation easily
• very stable at service conditions
• Low oiliness

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 LIQUID LUBRICANTS

(3) Blended oils

Improvement of lubricating oils by adding specific additives

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(i) Addition of vegetable oil to petroleum oil increases oiliness.
(ii) EP additives to increase the viscosity to lubricants for high-
pressure or high load machines
(iii) Adding anti-oxidants to vegetable oils to retard oxidation
(iv) Adding anti-foaming agents like glycols, glycerol to decrease
foam formation.

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 LIQUID LUBRICANTS

(4) Lubricating emulsions

An emulsion is a two-phase system, consisting of a fairly coarse
dispersion of two immiscible liquids.
Emulsifiers contain both hydrophobic and hydrophilic

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component.

They are of two- types:

(a) Oil-in-water emulsions: Adding oil containing 3-20% water
soluble emulsifier agent to a suitable quantity of water.
(b) Water-in-oil emulsions: Mixing water containing 1-10% water
soluble emulsifier to oil.

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 MECHANISM OF LUBRICATION
Fluid-film or thick-film or Boundary lubrication or thin-
hydrodynamic lubrication film lubrication

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Extreme-pressure
lubrication

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 FLUID-FILM/HYDRODYNAMIC/THICK FILM
LUBRICATION: MECHANISM
When moving surfaces are separated by the pressure of
continuous unbroken film or layer of lubrication.
Here the load is taken completely by the oil film

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In shafts running at a fair speed and as well in bearings with not
too high load.
Hydrocarbon based oils used for fluid film lubrication.
Examples: watches, clocks, guns, sewing machine, etc 9
 BOUNDARY LUBRICATION: MECHANISM
Boundary / thin film lubrication occurs when the solid surfaces are
so close together that the surface interactions between
monomolecular or multi-molecular films of lubricants (liquids or
gases).

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Machines with low speed and high load
Vegetable or animal oils used for boundary/thin film lubrication.
Ex: bearings, gears, piston rings, pumps, etc.
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 EXTREME PRESSURE LUBRICATION

When moving/sliding surfaces are under very high

pressure and speed, liquid lubricants fail to stick and
may decompose or vaporize.
Hence special additives are added to mineral oils. These

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are called extreme-pressure additives (EPA)

These additives are capable of withstanding high

temperature and pressure.
Additives are: chlorinated ester, sulphurised oils,
tricresyl phosphate, etc are used as EP lubricants.

Ex: Industrial and construction machines

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 PROPERTIES OF LUBRICANTS

(1) Viscosity and viscosity Index

(2) Flash and fire point
(3) Cloud and pour point

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(4) Oiliness
(5) Emulsifcation number
(6) Volatility
(7) Carbon residue
(8) Aniline point

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 VISCOSITY AND VISCOSITY INDEX

Viscosity is the property of a liquid or fluid by virtue of

which it offers resistance to its own flow.

Viscosity determines the operating characteristics of the

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lubricant.

(i) If viscosity is too low, a liquid oil film cannot be

maintained between the two moving/sliding surfaces
and leads to wear and tear.
(ii) If the viscosity is too high, excessive friction will
result.

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 VISCOSITY INDEX

Viscosity of a liquid decreases with increasing

temperature. Thus the lubricant oil becomes thinner with
increase in temperature.

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A good lubricating oil should not change much with
change in temperature

The rate at which the viscosity of an oil changes with

temperature is measured by VISCOSITY INDEX.

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 VISCOSITY INDEX

Determination of V.I is done by using two standard oils: one with low
V.I (zero) naphthanic-base gulf oils and other is with high V.I (100)
paraffinic-base pennsylvannian oils.

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L-U
Viscosity Index V. I. = + 100
L-H

U = Viscosity at 100 oF of the oil under test

L = Viscosity at 100 oF of the low viscosity standard oil
having V.I. zero
H = Viscosity at 100 oF of the high viscosity standard oil
having V.I. 100
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 FLASH POINT AND FIRE POINT

Flash point is the lowest temperature at which the oil

lubricant gives off enough vapors that ignite for a moment
when a tiny flame is brought near it.

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Fire point is the lowest temperature at which the oil burn
continuosly for atleast five seconds when a tiny flame is
brought near it.

A good lubricant should have flash-point at least

above the temperature at which it is to be used.

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 FLASH POINT AND FIRE POINT
Flash and fire point are determined by using Pensky-
Marten’s apparatus which consists of
• An oil cup
• heater

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• thermometer
• Shutter
• Flame exposure device
• Air bath
• stirrer
• Pilot burner

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FLASH POINT AND FIRE POINT
 CLOUD POINT AND POUR POINT

Cloud point is the temperature at which the lubricant oil

becomes cloudy or hazy in appearance when cooled slowly.

Pour point is the temperature at which the lubricant oil

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ceases to flow when cooled slowly.

Cloud & pour point indicate the suitability of lubricants in

cold conditions.

A good lubricant should have low cloud point and

pour point. (for machines working at low
temperature conditions)
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CLOUD POINT AND POUR POINT
 OILINESS
Oiliness of a lubricant is a measure of its capacity to stick on
to the surface of the machine parts.

When lubricating oil is subjected to high pressure, it has a

tendency to squeeze out. Lubricants with good oiliness has

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less tendency to squeeze out at high pressure or load
conditions.

Oiliness is important in cases of machines working under

extreme pressure conditions. Vegetable and animal oils
have high oiliness and mineral oils have less oiliness.

The static-friction test, with proper refinements, is the best

single measure of the properties of oiliness
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A good lubricant should have high oiliness

 EMULSIFICATION NUMBER
Emulsification number is the property of oil to get
intimately mixed with water forming a mixture called
emulsion.

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Formation of emulsion creates a tendency to collect dirt, grit,
foreign matter, etc that leads to abrasion, wear and tear of the
machine parts.

Steam emulsion number (SEN) is found by using

A.S.T.M test (Steam is passed in to a test tube containing
20mL of oil at 100 oC. The tube kept at 90 oC and time taken
for the emulsion to separate is noted)
ASTM -= American society for testing and materials 22
 STEAM EMULSION NUMBER

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The time in second in which oil
and water emulsion separates
out in distinct layers - SEN
A good lubricant should form
an emulsion with water which
breaks off quickly. (Low SEN)
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 VOLATILITY
When a lubricating oil is used in heavy machines at high
temperatures, a portion of oil may vaporize leaving behind a
residue that may have different lubricating properties.

Volatility of an oil can be determined by an apparatus called

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vaporimeter.

vaporimeter

A good lubricant should have low volatility.

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(it means, it should vaporise at high temperature)
 CARBON RESIDUE

Lubricating oils contain usually

carbon in combined form. On
heating they decompose depositing
certain carbon. The deposition of

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such carbon becomes intolerable
for functioning of machines like
internal combustion engines, air-
compressors, etc.

Carbon residue can be determined

using Conradson method

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CARBON RESIDUE

A good lubricant should have

least amount of carbon
residue.

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 ANILINE POINT

Aniline point of an oil is the

minimum equilibrium solution
temperature for equal volumes of
aniline and lubricating oil sample.

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Aniline point gives an indication of
the possible deterioration of the
lubricant in contact with rubber
sealings, packings, etc.

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 ANILINE POINT

Mechanically stirring & heating

equal volumes of aniline and
lubricant oil in a test tube until
homogenous. Then the test tube

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allowed to cooled. Aniline point is
the temperature at which aniline
and the lubricant separates out.

A good lubricant should have

higher aniline point
temperature.

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 SEMISOLID LUBRICANT
Greases are prepared by
saponification of fat (oil) with alkali
(soap) followed by agitation of the
mixture

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Soap is added as a thickening agent so
that grease sticks firmly to the
surface. Important greases are:
(1) Calcium-based greases
(2) Soda-based greases
(3) Lithium-based greases

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 CALCIUM BASED GREASE

Calcium-based greases or cup-

greases are emulsions of petroleum oils
with calcium soaps.

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Preparation: Adding Ca(OH)2 to hot lubricating oil under
agitation.

They are cheaper and most commonly used grease.

Insoluble in water, hence it can be used under water at low
temperature conditions.
This grease is unstable above 80 oC.
Suitable for marine machine applications 30
 SODA-BASED GREASE

Soda-based greases are emulsions of

petroleum oils with sodium soaps.

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Preparation: Adding NaOH to hot lubricating oil under
agitation.

They are not water resistant.

But can be used at high temperatures up to 175 oC.
Suitable for machines that use ball bearings.

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 LITHIUM-BASED GREASE

Lithium-based greases are emulsions

of petroleum oils with lithium soaps.

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Preparation: Adding LiOH to hot lubricating oil under agitation.

They are water resistant

Suitable for use at low temperatures (but up to 15 oC only)

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 SOLID LUBRICANTS

Solid lubricants are used when

(1) Operating conditions does not facilitate application of oil
(2) Contamination to be prevented

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(3) Operating temperature is too high
(4) Combustible lubricants to be avoided

Two most common solid lubricants are:

(1) Graphite
(2) Molybdenum sulphide

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 SOLID LUBRICANTS

Graphite is most commonly

used solid lubricant.

It is soapy to touch, non-

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inflammable and will not get
oxidized in air below 375 oC.

Graphite consists of carbon

atoms with a multitude of flat
plates which are held together
by weak van der waals
interations.
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 GRAPHITE

Suspension of graphite in oil or water is

brought about with the help of an
emulsifying agent like tannin

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Oil-dag: When graphite is dispersed in oil
Application: Internal combustion
engines as it forms a film between piston
rings and the cylinder to increase
compression
Aqua-dag: When graphite is dispersed in
water.
Application: In foodstuff industry where
lubricant free from oil is required. 35
 MOLYBDENUM SULPHIDE

MoS2 has a sandwich-like

structure in which a layer of
molybdenum lies in between two
layers of sulphur atoms.

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 MOS2

Poor interlaminar attraction leads

to low shear strength in a direction
parallel to the layers.

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MoS2
• Posses very low co-efficient of
friction
• Stable in air up to 400 oC.
• Fine powder in nature

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 SYNTHETIC LUBRICANTS / SYNTHETIC OILS

Synthetic lubricants is a man-made

lubricant that consists of
artificially made chemical compounds.

Synthetic oil is used as a substitute for

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petroleum-refined oils when operating in
extreme temperature, chemically reactive
atmosphere, extreme speed, etc
Ex: Aircraft jet engines

Properties of synthetic lubricant

Temperature range : -100 °C to +250 °C, low freezing point, high
VI, non-inflammable, high flash point, high chemical stability, etc

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 SYNTHETIC LUBRICANTS / SYNTHETIC OILS
Synthetic lubricants are of two types
(1) Fully synthetic lubricants
(additives >50%)
(2) Semi-synthetic lubricants
(additives <50%)

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List of additives for the synthetic
lubricants
Alkylated aromatics,
Polyalpha olefins (PAO)
Polyalkylene glycol (PAG)
Olefin polymers,
Silicones,
polyphenyl ethers,
fluoro hydrocarbons,
silicates, etc 39
 NANO LUBRICANTS

Nanolubricants are the name given to

the dispersion of nanoparticles in a
base oil

NPs of Fe, Cu, Ni, TiO2, CuO, ZnO,

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Al2O3, Fe3O4, ZnAl2O4, MoS2,
graphite, graphene, etc

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 ASSIGNMENT FOR CAT-2
Chemical Composition
Properties: 2-3 points
Applications: 2-3 applications
One picture on its look
One picture on its application

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(1) Natural Abrasive
Diamond, Emery, Quartz, Garnet, Corundum

(2) Artificial Abrasives

Carborundum and Boron carbide

Last Date for Submission

29-05-2023 (Monday)

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END OF MODULE - 4