the advantages of silicone oils
When we talk about synthetic lubricants, silicone oils are among the most effective in the lubrication of mechanical components operating at high temperatures. Their high sliding property makes them the best choice for metal-plastic and rubber-metal combinations, also thanks to their inertia and reduced interaction with the materials they wrap.
Silicone oils are made up of synthetically derived polymers where the protagonists - silicon and oxygen - form a very stable and resistant base frame to which organic groups of various kinds are coupled, suitably designed to give further performance. This structure is particularly stable both to thermo-oxidation and to viscothermic stability: minimum variation in viscosity as the temperature varies.
These characteristics extend the use of silicone oils to application contexts where there are both high thermal loads and requirements of minimum variation in viscous friction as the temperature varies. The silicones most used in industrial lubrication belong to the family of dimethyl silicones, used as:
- Industrial lubrication oils
- Fluids for friction control, such as in soft closing kinematics applied to hinges
- Fluids emulsified in water for the assembly of plastic and rubber parts
- Pseudoplastic lubricants suitably thickened to obtain lubricating pastes or greases
Silicone oil for high temperatures and more!
Starting at temperatures just above 100 ° C, heat can cause massive damage to your components, and consequently to your machinery, if not properly lubricated.
Considering that the thickness of the lubrication film is usually very small, almost imperceptible, it is important to understand why it is necessary to use a silicone oil for high temperatures, if you do not want the efficiency and duration of the kinematics to be reduced quickly due to its thermodegradation.
To ensure your systems operate smoothly at any temperature, even over 200 ° C, we recommend a silicone oil with an excellent lubricating power and great chemical resistance to the action of solvents, conceived as a silicone for high temperatures from the start... such as fluorosilicones for example.
The latter aspect is not to be given for granted, as silicone oils can be divided into at least 5 different categories:
- dimethyl silicones, ideal for reducing friction of rubbers and plastics
- methyl-phenyl silicones, resistant to high temperatures, but also to low temperatures; they withstand radiation very well and have a high oxidation stability
- methyl alkyl silicones, compatible with organic materials; they are used above all in industrial coating and painting applications
- chloro-phenyl-methylsilicones, guarantee effective lubrication under extreme friction conditions in metal-metal couplings
- organosilicones, include all frames (Si-O-Si), variously combined with organic polymers.
The benefits of using a high temperature silicone oil
Did you know that 60% of mechanical devices suffer damage and breakage precisely due to incorrect lubrication? And that thermal degradation due to high temperature plays a fundamental role?
Industrial plants that carry out activities in high temperature conditions contain:
- Heat transfer systems, where diathermic oils play the fundamental role of draining the heat in thermal regimes where temperatures can reach up to 250 ° C
- Vacuum and ultra-vacuum pumps, where the demand for low oil evaporation caused by the depression generated during operation must also play a role in separating the friction surfaces, to avoid overheating of the equipment.
Find out much more in the complete guide on the silicone oils we produce, and on the possibility of requesting a calibrated and non-standard viscosity.
