Machinery Lubrication

Machinery Lubrication July - August 2018

Machinery Lubrication magazine published by Noria Corporation

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because most organizations are already spending money on lubrication and just need to know how to do so effectively. Webster's dictionary defines lubrication as the application of some oil or grease substance to diminish friction. Although this definition is valid, it does not encompass everything that proper lubrication can achieve. It is this simple definition that often explains why organizations place little or no importance on lubrication. ey lack a thorough knowledge of reliability and how lubrication impacts it. ink of your lubrication systems as the circulation system in your body. To stay alive, you need to do a lot of proactive reliability efforts. e driving force behind the need for a lubrication program is the fact that 70 percent of all unreliability is caused by a lack of a lubrication program. Improper lubrica- tion causes mechanical wear and premature equipment/component failure or unreliability. Mechanical Wear Mechanical wear of equipment compo- nents is common, particularly where improper lubrication is an issue. Particle and moisture contamination, along with the wrong or degraded lubricants, are the prevalent factors in creating rust on metal components. is increases the oxidation rate, which leads to increased acid within the components. Mechanical wear happens when machine surfaces rub against each other. Abrasive wear takes place when particles enter the system, commonly through contaminated lubricants. ese particles are usually dirt or wear materials, and they lead to three-body abrasion known as surface fatigue, which pits and scores machine surfaces. is results in premature failure and unreliability. Adhesive wear occurs when two surfaces come in direct contact and transfer material from one face to the other. is happens when lubricants cannot support the load, where surfaces suffer from lubricant starvation or when the wrong lubricant is used. Metal fatigue is another form of mechan- ical wear. An example would be if you worked a wire back and forth to cut it without tools. e more you move the wire back and forth, the harder the metal works; the fatigue increases, ultimately resulting in a brittle point that snaps. is is the effect contami- nants have on metal surfaces. Over time, this constant flexing will fatigue the metal, causing premature failure. e Institute of Mechanical Engineers has found that "every $1,000 invested in proper lubrication yields a savings of $4,000." is is a great return on investment in anyone's book and an example of how to justify a project and fund your reliability efforts. Corrosion Acid is a byproduct of the reaction between additives in the oil and water. Lubri- cant contamination has many paths. e manufacturing process of the lubricants is the first place contamination enters the system, but it can also enter through seals, creating a caustic environment that results in wear. is can happen if you do not understand the lubricant's additive package, because you can end up with corrosive damage. An example would be using an extreme-pressure additive with yellow metal (copper, brass, etc.), because some of these additives are corrosive to this type of metal. is is another instance where WE HAVE A BETTER SOLUTION. 800-435-7003 www.ifhgroup.com Unreliability Improper Lubrication 70 % Contamination 15 % Incorrect Installation 15 % www . machinerylubrication.com | July - August 2018 | 9

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