Lubricants

Lubrication is a process to reduce friction between two surfaces in relative motion by interposing a film of a fluid or solid called a lubricant between the two surfaces. The science that studies friction, lubrication, and wear is called tribology, which studies interacting surfaces in relative motion. Lubricants and lubrication are part of tribology.

Apart from reducing friction, lubricants have other equally important functions such as dissipating heat, protecting against corrosion, acting as a sealant, removing wear particles and contaminants, transmitting power, etc. A lubricant consists of basestock, the largest portion, and additives.

The choice of basestock will depend on the following requirements of the system where it will be used:

• Physical-chemical requirements: temperature, shear rate, solubility, compatibility elastomers, etc.
  
  
• Tribological requirements: load, friction, wear, type of metal.
  
  
• Functions of the lubricant: lubricating, cooling, protecting, sealing.
  
  
• Economic: prices, availability.
  
  
• Environmental.
  
  
• Legislative.
  
  
• Health and safety.
  
  
• Equipment status.
  
  

Not all requirements can always be met with the basestock chemistry. In this case, a compromise should be found by evaluating and weighing the most important properties with the ones that can be improved with additives.

LUMAR has a wide range of basestocks and additives to cover all the needs that may arise when designing a lubricant. Lubrication plays a vital role in reducing energy costs within the circular economy. Our ingredients are aimed at developing innovative solutions in accordance with today’s standards in terms of technical performance, reliability, efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability.