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The most critical function provided by
lubricants is to minimize friction and wear to extend
equipment service life. Gear failures can be traced to
mechanical problems or lubricant failure. Lubricant-related
failures are usually traced to contamination, oil film
collapse, additive depletion, and use of improper lubricant
for the application. The most common failures are due to
particle contamination of the lubricant Dust particles are
highly abrasive and can penetrate through the oil film,
causing “plowing” wear or ridging on metal surfaces.
Water contamination can cause rust on working surfaces of
the gears and eventually destroy metal integrity. To prevent
premature failure, gear selection requires careful
consideration of the following: gear tooth geometry, tooth
action, tooth pressures, construction materials and surface
characteristics, lubricant characteristics, and operating
environment.
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