Lubrication from an Aerosol Perspective

Presented to the Southern Aerosol Technical Association

October 2nd 2009

Tri ad Lubrica tion Components , LLC Dedicated to Qual i ty & Resources Management

Why is Lubrication from an Aerosol Perspective different ?

Traditional Automotive & Industrial lubricants have significant test protocols

Engine oil tests for HD & PC together approach $1,000,000

The majority of applications call for circulation of the lubricants with resonance time in a storage tank

Most non-aerosol lubricants are made for a specific use rather than just a “General Purpose” need

The 3 Basics of Good Lubrication

The correct product

For the specific application

Delivered in a timely and efficient manner

* From various Lubrication Industry Handbooks

The 3 Basics of Good Lubrication:

Aerosol Lubricants

Aerosol based lubricants and their delivery systems incorporate specialty lubricants used for and into special applications where everything depends on somebody deciding when to use an aerosol can and how much to spray* From the “old Tribologist” 2009

Aerosol Lubricants Designing the correct product

Base Oils

Additives

Propellant

Aerosol Lubricants Designing the correct product

Base Oils: Key Criteria Chemical Type

Naphthenic Paraffinic (Group I, II) Synthetic (PAO, Ester, Alkylated Naphthalene, PAG, Silicone) Natural/Bio (Soy, Canola, SBME)

Viscosity 2 cst up to > 20,000 cst @40°C

Aerosol Lubricants : General Base Oil Properties

Oil TypeSolubility/Solvency

VILow Temp.Rheology

Relative Cost

Naphthenic Very Good LowGood Pour Point

Poor LT Vis,Low

Paraffinic(GP 1)

< Napth. Medium> PP vs. Napth.Better LT Vis.

Moving up

Paraffinic(GP 1I)

< Group I Medium> PP vs. Napth.Better LT Vis.

Stabilizing

SyntheticGood to Very Poor

Poor to Very High

Excellent to Poor High

Natural/Bio Good Very High Usually poor < Synthetic

Aerosol Lubricants : Designing the correct product: Additives

Types commonly used in Aerosol Lubricants Additives that change the fluid’s properties

Anti-oxidants Tackifiers & thickeners

Additives that affect lubrication Lubricity additives including solid lubricants AW & EP additives

Additives that protect metals Rust inhibitors Anticorrosion additives

Aerosol Lubricants

Additives that change the fluid’s properties Anti-oxidants

May impart better shelf life and spray integrity to certain formulations Low level formulation impact Supports less frequent application ?

Tackifiers & thickeners Tackifiers can enhance non dripping characteristic Thickeners raise overall fluid viscosity

Aerosol Lubricants

Additives that affect Lubrication Lubricity additives including solid lubricants

Liquid additives Polar molecules that impart a friction modifying and boundary lubricant property to the product Important in slow speed and lightly loaded applications

Solid Lubricant Additives Specific low friction solids that are available as sub-micronic dispersions or powders added to the aerosol formulation Graphite, Moly-Disulfide, PTFE & Boron Nitride

Aerosol Lubricants

Additives that affect Lubrication AW & EP additives

Both types of additives react chemically with the metal surface to form films that reduce wear and/or raising the load carrying ability of the lubricant AW additives containing ZDDP & Phosphorous are commonly used EP additives containing Chlorine & Sulfur are not generally utilized in aerosol formulations

Aerosol Lubricants

Falex Pin & Vee (ASTM D 2670 & D 3233)

Testing Lubrication Properties

Generally for determination of lubricity/boundary properties Fairly low cost procedure Adaptation of test machinery can provide coefficient of friction results

Aerosol Lubricants

Four Ball Wear - Oils & Greases (ASTM D 4172 & D 2266)

Testing Lubrication Properties

Used to determine anti-wear properties Adaptation of test machinery can provide coefficient of friction values

Aerosol Lubricants

SRV Coefficient of Friction and Wear Oscillation TestASTM D 6425 & DIN 51834

Testing Lubrication Properties

Used to determine anti-wear properties under specific oscillating conditions Excellent test for determining coefficient of friction values Many variables can be incorporated (Temp, break in load, materials) More costly to run test

Aerosol Lubricants

Additives that protect metals Rust inhibitors

Higher Mw chemistry that when deposited, prevents corrosion by displacing water and providing a physical barrier to the atmosphere Organo-metallic compounds that interrupt the oxidation process (rust) of ferrous alloys

Combinations of the above

Anticorrosion additives for non-ferrous metals Chemicals that function as “deactivators” of metallic surfaces such as copper and other “yellow metals” that are prone to corrosion

Additives that tie up sulfur that may be in a formula, causing it to be

less corrosive to metal surfaces

Aerosol Lubricants Testing metal protection properties

Good screening tool to establish relative rust protection Run at 100% humidity & 50°C Long cycle time to establish failure

Humidity Cabinet (ASTM D 1748)

Aerosol Lubricants Testing metal protection properties

Cycling humidity/dry conditions to simulate ambient exposure 8 Hrs. @ 100% Humidity followed by 16 Hrs. dry = 24 hour day all @40°C European acceptance is greater than North America

Kesternich Rust Test (DIN 50 017)

Aerosol Lubricants Testing metal protection properties

Excellent accelerated method to differentiate rust protection Failures can occur quickly in a very aggressive environment of 100% humidity, 5% NaCl solution @ 35°C

Salt Spray/Fog (ASTM B 117 & DIN 50 021)

Aerosol Lubricants Testing metal protection properties

Universally accepted test detects corrosivity of lubricants on yellow metal No universal standard that predicts lubricant corrosion in Aluminum

Copper Strip Corrosion Test (ASTM D 130)

Aerosol Lubricants

Formulating lubricants from scratch foraerosol delivery requires understanding of the interactions of base stocks and additives and their response to the propellant system……….

However another popular aerosol deliveredlubricant presents more challenges

Aerosol Lubricants

Aerosolized Lubricating Greases - A unique product for unique applications

What is a Lubricating Grease ?

A mixture of oils and appropriate thickeners designed to form a matrix that suspends the oil (sometimes including additives) that perform a lubricating function.

Official NLGI Definition: A lubricating grease is a solid or semi-fluid lubricant consisting of a thickening agent in a liquid lubricant. Other ingredients imparting special properties may be included.

Aerosol LubricantsGrease comes in many colors & consistencies

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (LZW) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (LZW) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Aerosol Lubricants

Typical NLGI #2 grade grease

Base Oils

Additives Thickener

Aerosol LubricantsWhy incorporate a grease into an

aerosol delivered lubricant ?

To decrease dripping and spattering To decrease frequency of lubrication To seal out contaminates For intermittent operation For extreme operating conditions When noise reduction is important

Aerosol Lubricants

Choosing the appropriate grease for aerosol applications

Will it do the job ? What properties should it have ? Can I effectively “tailor” it ? How will it spray ? What color can I get it in ? Is the grease I want off the shelf ?

Aerosol Lubricants

The NLGI grading system as to grease consistency

NLGI Number ASTM D 217 WorkedPenetration

000 445 - 47500 400 - 4300 355 - 3851 310 - 3402 265 - 2953 220 - 2504 175 - 2055 130 - 1606 85 - 115

Aerosol Lubricants Testing Lubricating Grease Properties

Primary determining factor in measuring lubricating grease consistency Establishes 9 different grades of grease (NLGI 000 - NLGI 6) Greases that are aerosolized are usually starting as #2 grade

Cone Penetration (ASTM D 217)

Aerosol LubricantsCommon Grease thickeners

Polyurea6%

LithiumComplex20%

AluminumComplex6% Calcium

10%

Lithium49%

Sodium3%

Other6%

Aerosol Lubricants Testing Lubricating Grease Properties

Establishes the temperature that the base oil & the thickener matrix begin to separate or soften enough so as to loose overall consistency Dropping points do not constitute upper limits of a particular greases use Some additives will adversely effect dropping points

–Dropping Point (ASTM D 2265)

Aerosol LubricantsAerosol Grease Considerations

Thickener Type

Dropping Points

Additiveeffect on DP

Water resistance

Mechanical Stability

Lithium Very Good Moderate Good Good to Excellent

LithiumComplex

Very High Moderate Good to Excellent

Good to Excellent

Clay/Bentone Excellent Severe Fair to Very Good Good

AluminumComplex

Very High > than Lithium Excellent Good to

Excellent

CalciumComplex

Excellent ?? Excellent Good

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (LZW) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Aerosol Lubricants

Quality lubricants possessing unique properties can comefrom these containers

It’s all about the design !

Thank You

Tri ad Lubrica tion Components , LLC Dedicated to Qual i ty & Resources Management