Applications for lubricating greases
The factors to consider when selecting the correct lubricant for your business, from amongst the numerous types of lubricating greases available, are many. The recommendations of those who produce them or those who already use them are certainly a great start but someone's word cannot be the only discriminating factor for such an important choice.
Delve further. For example, do not consider numbers and statistics only in ideal conditions but also be informed about the performance of products in extreme conditions of use, which almost never occur but it only takes once to for all your work to go up in smoke.
Study for yourself the specific product for your needs with the manufacturer - from the technology behind its use to the quantity and frequency of use, through to the best procedures for applicability and usage. Not everyone is able to do this, so rely on those who are able to respond to the specific needs of your business.
Lubricating greases: the characteristics
When looking for the right lubricating grease, the application environment must be kept in mind. For example, if a bearing has to be in contact with large amounts of water, a lubricant with high resistance to washout and high corrosion resistance properties must be chosen. Conversely, if the bearings are at low speed and extreme pressure, it is possible to increase the reliability of the equipment by choosing a lubricant that contains a high-viscosity base oil, with the ability to withstand high loads.
Lubricating greases are generally very useful to:
- Ensure the operation of moving parts
- Protect from rust
- Ensure heat dispersion
- Limit wear
- Withstand strong stresses and high loads
To determine which lubricating grease is ideal for your application, you first need to understand your current situation, then look forwards to where you want to go and how. Only along this path can you study the environmental factors of the application in an effective and functional way for your product, such as speed, temperature, load, vibrations, humidity, dust, and so on.
Lubricating greases: when to use them
Incorrect lubrication, both in terms of the product used and of the procedure, is one of the main causes of damage or even breakage of mechanical components. The choice of the correct lubricant is certainly not an immediate thing, and it is precisely for this reason that you cannot go wrong.
Each use requires a different type of lubricating grease, depending on its properties in terms of:
- Penetration
- Adhesiveness
- Resistance to high pressures
- Resistance to high temperatures
- Resistance to low temperatures
- Duration over time
- Compatibility with plastics
- Food certifications
- Noise reduction
- Corrosion protection
- Dirt protection
- Flammability
Each variable is capable of threatening the performance and life of the component you are using or designing, so when it comes to lubricating greases, it is important to understand how to choose them and when to use them.
