Classification of Lubricants

 

Lubricants can be classified into several chatergories by considering many factors.

We can classify them ,

• By state of matter

   1.Solid Lubricant

  
  
  The lubricants existing in solid form are the Solid  lubricants.They are preferred where the operating conditions re such that a lubricanting film cannot be secured by the use of lubricating oils or grease.

            eg:-) Graphite , wax , soap , Mica ,Chalk

  2.Semi Solid Lubricant

  
  A semi solid lubricant obtained by  combining lubricating oil with thickening agents.Lubricating oil  is the principal component and it can be either petrolium oil or a synthetic hydrocarbon of low to high viscosity.

             eg;-) silica , gel , grease , vaseline

  3.Liquid Lubricant

  
  The lubricants existing in liquid form  are the Liquid lubricants.

              eg:-) petrolium oil ,  mineral oil , blended oil , animal and vegitable oil Matter can exist  in one of three main states : Solid , Liqid  or it may be in gassious state. Lubricants  also exist in these  states.By considering those conditions lubricants have classidied into 3 chatergories.

• 
  

• By using purposes

Lubricants are largely used for automobiles, heavy industries, industries, and vessels. 

1.For Transportation Facilities

- Diesel Engine Oil

- Gasoline Engine Oil

- Diesel-electric locomotive Engine Oil

- Aeromotor Engine Oil

- LPG Engine Oil

- CNG Engine Oil

- Motorcycle Engine Oil

- 2-cycle Motor Engine Oil

- Automatic Transmission Oil

- Automotive Gear Oil

2.For Industrial Machine

- Hydraulic Oil

- Machine Oil

- Industrial Gear Oil

- Turbine Oil

- Circulating Oil

- Compressor Oil

Like that we canclassify the lubricant by considering their purposes.

 

• By viscosity

Viscosity is a measure of a  fluid's resistance to flow.By considering this factor again the lubricants have classified.Viscosity of these lubricants are not same , they are different fron each other. Their performance also chnge according to their viscosities.

So, to understand lubricants there is a method called called SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) index. SAE is an international standard established for the viscosity of engine oil by the Society of Automotive Engineers.

They are in different grades.,

•  Single Grade

According to the viscosity grades in SAE table  the products  of grades expressed in a single number such as SAE 10W are single grade lubricants.

•  Multi Grade

According to the viscosity grades in SAE table  the products  of grades expressed intwo kind of number such as SAE 5W30 are multi grade lubricants.

The viscosity change of multi-grade lubricating oils at high temperature is smaller than that of single grade lubricanting oils.

• By performance