Lubricants are very important because they make mechanical systems less sensitive to wear and friction. Did you know, though, that these lubricants are often made more effective by adding special chemicals? Chemicals that make oils and greases work better in a number of ways are called additives to lubricants.
Gravite is a black powder that is ground up into very small pieces. It is one of the most common ingredients used in lubricants. Graphite can stay in the system for a long time and keep lubricating it because it doesn’t break down in oil.
The Mechanics of Lubricant Additives
There are several ways that additions to lubricants make them work better. Chemicals like ZDDP (Zinc Dialkyldithiophosphate) cover metal surfaces to protect them from damage and wear. This keeps metals from touching each other directly. Some of them, like silicon-based compounds, make a protective layer that stops corrosion, especially when they are heated up. Compounds made from titanium can stop carbon from building up, even in combustion tanks.
Lubricants usually have two types of additives: those that make the oil thicker and those that make it less slippery. Viscosity modifiers help the oil stay the right thickness across a wide range of temperatures, so it works well in all working conditions. On the other hand, additives that reduce friction between moving parts quickly cut down on wear and increase efficiency.
Benefits of Lubricant Additives
Reduced Friction and Wear
Wear and friction are the main things that hurt machine parts. When surfaces keep moving against each other, the materials break down over time and eventually fail. By creating a shield between moving parts, lubricant ingredients are very important in stopping this. This layer cuts down on contact a lot, which keeps damage to a minimum. Because of this, parts last longer and there is less chance that they will break down without warning. This benefit is especially important in places with a lot of stress where machines work quickly or with a lot of weight on them.
Enhanced Corrosion Protection
Metal surfaces can get ruined by corrosion, which is usually brought on by water and other things in the environment. Compounds added to lubricants that stop corrosion protect against rust and other types of corrosion. By creating a barrier on metal surfaces, these additives keep corrosive agents from coming into touch with them. This protects the integrity of parts and makes them last longer. This is especially helpful in fields where tools have to work in rough conditions, like chemical processing plants or the ocean.
Improved Efficiency
When mechanical systems rub against each other, they lose a lot of energy. Because energy is turned into heat when objects rub against each other, it lowers efficiency. The use of lubricant specialty chemical additives that lower friction directly leads to a better energy economy. Because they lower the amount of energy lost to heat, these additives help machines work better and use less power. This can lead to big long-term cost savings, especially for business processes that happen on a large scale.
Prevention of Engine Damage
Sludge and particles that build up in engines can make them work much less well or even damage them badly. To stay away from these issues, it’s helpful to use oil additives that can disperse and clean. Dispersants keep impurities floating in the oil so they don’t stick to important engine parts, and detergents break down sludge and varnish. This will keep the engine clean, make it work better, and keep you from having to pay a lot of money for fixes that sludge causes.
Noise Reduction
Vibration and noise are caused by the friction between parts that are moving. Oil-based chemicals that lower friction also help things work more quietly and smoothly. This is good for the workplace as a whole and could mean that the machine is in good health and has been well taken care of. Keeping the stress that comes from too much shaking to a minimum can make parts last longer, make operators more comfortable, and make equipment more reliable.
Common Types of Lubricant Additives
Anti-Wear Additives
By adding anti-wear specialty chemicals that make a protective coating to metal surfaces, you can cut down on friction and wear. By keeping the metal pieces apart while they’re moving, this film lowers the chance of damage to the surface. Adding these things makes machines more reliable, and parts last longer because they cut down on wear.
Extreme Pressure (EP) Additives
Extreme pressure (EP) chemicals are activated by temperatures or pressures that are very high. When set off, they cover metal objects with a protective layer. When things are used in hard conditions, damage to the surface, like welding and scuffing can happen, but this layer helps shield against it. For example, gears and bearings are often put under a lot of stress and load, which is why EP chemicals are so important in these situations.
Detergents and Dispersants
Dispersants and cleansers work together to keep engines clean and free of harmful deposits. As well as cleaning, detergents break down oil and sludge that can build up on engine parts. To stop this from happening, dispersants keep these toxins from sinking to the bottom of the oil and leaving behind deposits. These steps work together to keep the engine clean, which makes it run better and stops sludge and oil from building up.
Viscosity Modifiers
When lubricants have viscosity modifiers, they can keep their perfect viscosity over a wide range of temperatures. Viscosity is a measure of how hard it is for a fluid to move. It can change a lot with temperature. To make sure that the lube always protects and lubricates, viscosity modifiers make sure that it works at both high and low temperatures.
High Mileage Oil Additives
Engines that are more than 100,000 miles old are great choices for high-mileage oil additives. Together, the automotive industry and specialty chemical industry can make high-mileage oil better and give you extra protection against wear, leaks, and other problems that come with getting older.
