The Functions of Lubrication

Lubricants reduce wear and friction by

Lubricating all true rolling contacts elastohydrodynamically Lubricating sliding contacts between the raceways and rolling elements Lubricating sliding contact between the rollers and guiding elements

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The Functions of Lubrication

Lubricants also
Protect highly finished surfaces of rolling elements and rings from corrosion Help prevent intrusion of foreign matter, (done with grease pack) Provide a heat transfer medium

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The Functions of Lubrication

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Base Oil Viscosity

VISCOSITY = "resistance to flow" of a fluid

Water: low viscosity (1cSt at 20C)

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Honey: high viscosity (~1200 cSt at 20C)

Lubrication Regimes

Boundary layer lubrication

Hydrodynamic lubrication

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Elasto-Hydrodynamic Regime

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How Does Good Lubrication Work?

Just like aqua planing! Rollers surf on a thin lubricant film No metal-metal contact
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How Does Good Lubrication Work?

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Incredible Performance of a Lubricant

Lubricant film thickness 1/100th of a paper sheet

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Withstanding pressure of 10 cars on a finger nail

Contamination Particles

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Contamination Particles

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Minimum Required Lubricant Viscosity

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Viscosity Minimums

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Viscosity - Temperature Chart

Viscosity classification numbers are according to International Standard ISO 3448-1975 for oils having a viscosity index of 95. Approximate equivalent SAE viscosity grades are shown in parentheses.
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Synthetic ISO VG 32 oil having a viscosity index of 138.

SAE grades crankcase oil

Viscosity Equivalents

ISO VG

Viscosities based on 95 VI singlegrade oils. ISO grades are specified at 40 C. AGMA grades are specified at 100 F. SAE 75W, 80W, 85W, and 5 and 10W Specified at low temperature (below 17 F = 0 C). Equivalent viscosities for 100 F And 210 F are shown. SAE 90 to 250 and 20 to 50 specified at 210 F (100 C).

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SAE grades gear oil

Kinematic viscosities

AGMA grades

Saybolt viscosities

Composition of a Lubricant

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Oil Types
Petroleum Oils
Napthenic Paraffinic

Synthetic Oils
Diesters Silicones Fluorocarbons Synthetic Hydrocarbons

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Oil Additives
Anti-Corrosion Anti-Foam AW (Anti-Wear)

Detergent Dispersant

Anti-Oxidant

EP (Extreme Pressure)

VI-improvement

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Additives
Antifoam Anticorrosion

Anti-oxidant

VI-improvement

without

with

without

with

with, but sheared to smaller molecules after long use

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Additives
E.P. Polar

Temperature Phosphorus Chlorine Sulphur

With oil additive Solid

Load SKF Reliability Systems

Solid Additives

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Grease Vs. Oil

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What is Grease?
A grease is 90 % oil held in a thickener (10 %)

Think of the thickener as a sponge holding the oil

It is not: a thick oil a solid oil (wax)

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Grease Grades

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NLGI Consistency Numbers

NLGI Number
000 00 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
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Penetration [* 0.1 mm]

445 - 475 400 - 430 355 - 385 310 - 340 265 - 295 220 - 250 175 - 205 130 - 160 85 - 115

Appearance

Use

Very Fluid Fluid Semi-Fluid Very Soft Soft Medium Hard Hard Very Hard Extremely Hard

gear boxes etc.

bearings

sealing

Incompatibility of Greases
which is mixed with a sodium grease

A lithium grease...

gives a softer grease than the two in isolation. The grease leaks out and, moreover, has a lower maximum operating temperature.

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Grease Compatibility Table

Calcium soap

Sodium (Na) soap Lithium complex Calcium complex Sodium complex Barium complex Aluminum complex Clay Polyurea

LCiassooapp NLiacsoomppl CNaaccoommppll BAalccoommppl CPolalyyurea

Thickners
Lithium soap
+ 0 + 0 0 0 0 0 + 0 + 0 0 0 0 0 + 0 0 + + 0 0 + + 0 + + 0 0 + 0 + + 0 0 0 + 0 0 + 0 0 + + 0 0 0 + 0 + + + 0 0 + 0 + + 0 0 0 0 0 0 + 0 0 0 0 + 0 0 0 0 +

+ = C o m p a t i b l e -a = I n c o m p t i b l e 0t = Ii n d i n v i g d u a l t e s r e q u i r e d

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Grease Thickeners
Thickener
Sodium soap Lithium soap Lithium complex soap Calcium soap Aluminum soap Sodium complex soap Calcium or barium complex soap

Base oil
Mineral oil Mineral oil Mineral oil Mineral oil Mineral oil Mineral oil Mineral oil

Temperature Range, C
-20 to 100 -20 to 130 -20 to 150 -20 to 50 -20 to 70 -20 to 140 -20 to 140

Reaction to Wear
dissolves resistant up to 90C resistant highly resistant resistant resistant up to approx. 80C highly resistant

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Grease Thickeners
Thickener
Bentonite Aluminum complex soap Polyurea Polyurea Lithium soap Lithium soap Lithium soap

Base oil
Mineral oil Mineral oil Mineral oil SHC oil di-Ester oil Poly-Ester Silicone oil

Temperature Range, C
-20 to 150 -20 to 150 -20 to 150 -40 to 160 -50 to 110 -40 to 160 -40 to 170

Reaction to Wear
resistant resistant resistant resistant resistant resistant highly resistant

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Standard Greasing Practice

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Grease Run-in

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Lubrication Modes
Greased for life
Sealed bearings Initial grease selection important

Occasional relubrication / replenishing

Open bearings Consult SKF / general catalogue

Continuous relubrication
For highly demanding applications, or for sealing purposes Consult SKF / general catalog
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Grease Lubrication Interval Chart

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Grease Relubrication Amount

By adding small quantities of fresh grease at regular intervals the used grease in the bearing arrangement will be partially replaced. Suitable quantities to be added can be obtained from:

GP (oz) = D (in) x B (in) 10

GP = Grease Quantity to be added when Replenishing

D = Bearing Outside Diameter

B = Bearing Width
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Grease Replenishment
Relubrication intervals from SKF Charts are based on L01
99% of bearings will still be reliably lubricated L10 Grease lives are approximately twice the L01 Grease life

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Grease Replenishment
If the Grease relubrication interval is less than six months, top off at half the recommended interval For Grease relubrication intervals over six months, completely remove and replace old grease with fresh grease Grease charts do not apply in contaminated environments

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Grease Paths

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Grease Escape

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Greasing Bearings on Vertical Shafts

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SKF System 24 Automatic Lubricator

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Static Oil Lubrication

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Oil Lifting Ring and Flinger

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Circulating Oil

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Oil Lubrication Schemes

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Air-Oil Delivery System

Metered Oil Supply (cc/Hour)

Oil Film

Compressed Air

Air/Oil Stream

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Life of an Oil

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Cleanliness Control Oil Lubrication

Water Extraction
Water is extremely detrimental to bearings:
One teaspoon or water in on gallon of oil reduces the oil viscosity approximately 50% This is just over 0.1% water content, or 1000 ppm

Aim for 200 ppm (0.02%) water content in filtered, circulating systems

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Cleanliness Oil Filtration

Filters use a Beta rating to define their effectiveness: Bx = n1 / n2
n1 = No. of particles per volume unit larger than x microns upstream from the filter n2 = No. of particles per volume unit larger than x microns downstream from the filter

B6 = 75 means only 1 in 75 particles greater than 6 microns will pass the filter

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Cleanliness Classifications
Two Cleanliness Classification systems are in use:
NAS 1638 ISO 4406

These systems rank the oil cleanliness by the number of particles of certain sizes present in the oil. Tables are available from SKF. SKF recommends ISO 4406 Class 15/12 or NAS Class 6 for circulating oil systems.
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Flushing New Circulating Oil Systems

Bearings can be damaged in the first few minutes of operation by hard contaminants in the system
Flushing should be accomplished before the first startup of the machine Recommend using a low viscosity oil and maximum flow rates to achieve the highest turbulence in the system Lower flow rates should not dislodge contaminants during normal operation

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Oil Sampling
Regular sampling gives best results
Samples from Pressurized Piping is preferred On-line Particle Counters are also available

Oil Condition: Check the following:

Viscosity Oxidation Particle Distribution by size Particle type and shape (by microscope) Water Content Loss of Additive Content

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Standstill Precautions
Free Water in the Oil or Grease is the greatest danger
Avoid High-Pressure Cleaning Explore New Seals and Sealing Methods
New Labryinth-type seals are available

Purge or Replace contaminated Lubricant with Fresh and Clean Lubricant In Circulating Oil Systems, remove Free Water before shutdown with extractors

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