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Lubrication
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Purpose of lubrication. The primary
purpose of lubrication is to reduce wear and heat between
contacting surfaces in relative motion. While wear and heat
cannot be completely eliminated, they can be reduced to
negligible or acceptable levels. Because heat and wear are
associated with friction, both effects can be minimized by
reducing the coefficient of friction between the contacting
surfaces.
Lubrication is also used to reduce oxidation
and prevent rust; to provide insulation in transformer
applications; to transmit mechanical power in hydraulic
fluid power applications; and to seal against dust, dirt,
and water.
Lubricants. Reduced wear and heat are
achieved by inserting a lower-viscosity (shear strength)
material between wearing surfaces that have a relatively
high coefficient of friction. In effect, the wearing
surfaces are replaced by a material with a more desirable
coefficient of friction. Any material used to reduce
friction in this way is a lubricant. Lubricants are
available in liquid, solid, and gaseous forms. Industrial
machinery ordinarily uses oil or grease. Solid lubricants
such as molybdenum disulfide or graphite are used when the
loading at contact points is heavy. In some applications the
wearing surfaces of a material are plated with a different
metal to reduce friction.
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