PROPERTIES OF  LUBRICANTS

There are various properties of lubricants such as Viscosity Index Oiliness,Volatility, Flashand Fire Point, Cloud Point And Pour Point, Emulsification, Carbon Residue, Aniline Point, Saponification Number.

                                                                    Viscosity Index

The viscosity index (V.I.) of an oil is a number that indicates the effect of  temperature changes on  the  viscosity  of  the  oil.  A  low  V.I.   signifies   relatively  large  change  of  viscosity   With changes of  temperature.  In  other  words,  the  oil  becom es extremely thin at high temperatures and extremely thick at low temperatures. On the other hand, a  high  V.I.  signifies  relatively  little  change  in viscosity  over  a  wide  temperature  range

      Motor Oil Characteristics

·         Oil Viscosity/SAE •Ease which oil flows •S.A.E  Rating  (Society of Automotive Engineers)

·         Service Rating/API

·         Oil Quality •A.P.I. (American Petroleum Institute)

·         Other Fluids & Lubricants

                                                                Asperities – Formidable

All surfaces, no matter how smooth they may appear to the unaided eye, when sufficiently magnified are rough and uneven. This  unevenness is know as asperities

                                        Three Common Types of Wear as a Result of Friction

                                                                             Tribology

Since the late 1960’s the field of Tribology – the study of friction, wear and lubrication in fluid systems - has  developed sophisticated tests to gain much knowledge into  the effects of friction and ways to reduce friction in order  to reduce wear, heat and particle contamination.

                                                                        The Problem

Friction and heat cause the destruction of asperities resulting in metal particles interrupting the oil film between two surfaces generating more particles. These particles react with moisture, impurities and lubricant additives creating corrosive acids that further pit the surface creating new asperities. These acids oxidize the lubricant, accelerate wear and rapidly deteriorate the functions of the lubricant resulting in the 3-common wears in the fluid system.

                                                       FLUID MANAGEMENT

                     Apply four essential components in a fluid management program. 

·                                                                                             Selection and purchase of lubrication 

·                                                                                 Lubrication monitoring during use

·                                                                           Lubricant maintenance using processing  

·                                                                                                    Refortification techniques 

·                                                                                          Disposal of the spent lubricant.