Types of Lubricant Additives and Reasons to Use Them

Liquid lubricants are typically either water-based or oil-based.

Water-Based vs Oil-Based Lubricants

Water-based lubricants are more commonly used in motor vehicle operations, whereas oil-based lubricants are most common in industrial and commercial applications. Motor oil is the most common lubricant, while automotive, marine, and motorcycle oils are the most common oils used in the industrial setting. Some lubricants are water or oil-based, while others are both water and oil-based. It should be noted that some liquid lubricants are exclusively for use in one type of application and are called aqueous lubricants. Read more here about lubricants.

Lubricant Additives Used on Regular Basis:

In addition to adding lubrication, lubricant additives introduce new properties to the material being lubricated. One of the most common additives is silicone, which creates both the oily feel and the slick feel that is required in friction-stiff components such as friction-reducing bearings in automobile engines. Another commonly used lubricant additive is polyethylene, which creates high-volume fluid-like fluids for purposes such as reducing or eliminating boil-over, high temperature rise, and low-pressure shutoff, wear resistance, improved lubricity, grease resistance and chemical resistance. The specific lubricant additives available depend on the kind of materials they are designed to serve, and they are also dependent on the environment in which they will be placed.

Secondary Sources of Lubricants

Most lubricant additives are introduced by first introducing secondary sources of lubricant into the work-piece, such as in a syringe-like container filled with oil or water. When the secondary sources are combined with the oil or water, they form a lubricant mixture that is then injected into an appropriate area, such as the work-piece’s ark.

Conventional Lubricants / Water-Based Lubricants

While conventional lubricants are primarily water-based, some oil-based additives can be used in applications where heavy-duty motor oil is not applicable, such as applications where surface tension is excessive heat is applied to a hot part.

Can You Find Natural / Organic Lubricants?

Some lubricant additives are organic and contain antioxidants. Antioxidants reduce friction, which is one cause of premature wear in a number of heavy-duty industries. Additionally, antioxidants enhance the wear resistance of metals, thus preventing metal corrosion. Common examples of organic lubricant additives containing antioxidants include linseed oil, which prevents galvanic reactions during transmission and in the case of an oil pump, and boron, which prevents the breakdown of steel by enhancing corrosion resistance. Other organic lubricant additives include zinc-cobalt silicon, which protects oil pump bearings, and Ethyl Acetate (EA), which serves as an anti-corrosion agent.