Industrial lubricants are a substance which is used between two moving solid or metal surfaces to reduce friction and wear between them. As we know that friction causes heat. So, use of industrial lubricants also reduces heat by carrying away from the moving parts. They cool the moving parts. Hence they are also sometime termed as coolants. Lubricants can be used in any machinery that has moving parts from a cycle paddle to an aeroplane and beyond. The major consumption of lubricants is in automobile industries. They are also used in other industries like marine, aircrafts, and metalworking industries. They play a vital role for the smooth running of an industry.
Industrial lubricants are found in three physical states - liquid, semi-liquid and solid. Motor oils, turbine oils, farming oils, gas engine oils, brake oils, hydraulic oils, etc are form of liquid industrial lubricants. Greases are the form of semi-liquid industrial lubricants which are widely used as lubrications for the moving metal parts of machinery. Graphite is the most predominant solid lubricant. The powder of graphite is used for lubrication. Now-a-days synthetic lubricants are also in vogue. Synthetic lubricants are specially designed from chemical compound using some additives for the better performance of the lubricants.
Additives are used in lubricants to perform better and some specific tasks and purposes. Use of additives makes increase the performance of industrial lubricants. They help to reduce the friction, wear, and remove heat that is generated by friction. They also increase the viscosity of the lubricants and reduce oxidation and contamination. They also prevent moving parts and components of the machinery against rust and corrosion. Metal deactivators, anti-oxidants, demulsifying compounds, emulsifying compounds, rust & corrosion inhibitors, anti-foaming etc are some of the most common additives which are used in industrial lubricants for the purpose of better performance. Some additives also help to reduce pressure and increase viscosity so that they can better perform in reducing friction and wear from the moving metal parts of the machinery.
Thus we see that use of industrial lubricants play a big role in running smoothly of any industry. One cannot think about smooth running of an industry without using lubricants. For example can any one think about smooth running of a vehicle without using motor oils (also termed as engine oils)? The answer will be surly negative. Motor oils are the biggest application of industrial lubricants. They are used for predominantly used for lubrication of moving parts of in motor vehicles or automobile industry. But they also clean and cool the engine by carrying away heat from moving parts that is caused by friction. They are used in various types of internal combustion engines and provide them better performance and longer life. Gear oils are also the form of motor oils which are used in gear boxes and gear systems.
Marine oils, turbine oils, hydraulic oils, farming oils, gas engine oils, etc are some other examples of industrial lubricating oils which are used in different application and for the different purpose. Some lubricants are also used in agricultural equipments such water pump set, diesel engines, tractors, etc. In metal working industries also lubricants are used for the purpose of better work performance. Coolants (also termed as grinding fluids or cutting fluids) are example of metalworking fluids which are used for the purpose of lubrication during the process of metalworking, grinding, drilling and boring.
