Lubrication engineers offer a wide range of industrial oils for a variety of applications, including long-lasting applications, high and low temperature applications, applications with possible incidental food contact, and outdoor applications in marine environments and other areas where environmental concerns require the use of a lubricant with very low toxicity. LE industrial oils are available in a wide range of ISO grades with viscosity to meet any existing application need.

A well-planned lubrication system with high-performance lubricants can bring many benefits. Regarding oil classification, here are some points you should know.

Key characteristics and specifications of industrial oil

Liquid oils can be classified into three major categories. Before discussing these classifications in more detail, it is important to know what the most important properties of the oil are.

Viscosity of industrial oil

Viscosity is the most important characteristic of industrial oils. It is expressed by the Viscosity Index (VI), which indicates the sensitivity of the lubricant's viscosity to temperature changes. A high VI indicates that the lubricant is more stable at different temperatures, both high and low.

Pour point of industrial oil

Another important property of liquid lubricants is their flowability at low temperatures or their pour point. In other words, this indicates the temperature at which the lubricant oil does not freeze but continues to flow. Thus, it makes lubrication possible in extreme outside temperatures.

Flash point of oil

The flash point of industrial oil is the temperature at which its vapor or a mixture of oil and vapor and air can ignite or burn. This acts as an indicator of the fire and explosion hazard of oils and fuels during storage and transport.

Industrial oils include 15 main categories, ranging from industrial gear oil, air compressor oil, and hydraulic oil to turbine oil. Since the types of industrial oils provided are very diverse, their features and benefits are also varied. These include anti-foam, anti-wear, high viscosity, thermal stability, high load-carrying ability, and many more.

Types of industrial oils are used to reduce friction between two surfaces. They provide protection against wear and tear, and reduce the heat generated by friction. Most lubricants used in industry have an organic base, such as a petroleum or mineral oil.

Industrial lubricants are used in various applications across a wide range of industries, such as:

automotive, engineering, automation, manufacturing, food processing, oil and gas, medical

The purpose of the lubricant determines what additives should be added to the base to achieve the desired performance.

The benefits of industrial oils include:

Reduction of friction, surface separation, heat transfer protection, corrosion and rust protection, wear protection, sealing and waterproofing properties

Different types of oil - oil base classification There are three types of industrial oil as mentioned above - natural oil, mineral oil, and synthetic oil.

Natural industrial oils

In the first category, we have natural oils derived from natural sources and not overly processed. Additionally, these liquid lubricants are made from animal and vegetable fats such as canola and castor oil.

Natural oils, due to their properties, are highly unstable products in oxidative and thermal environments. Moreover, they oxidize easily at high temperatures, causing them to lose their properties. For these reasons, we do not use natural oils for lubricating machinery.

Mineral oils

Mineral oils are lubricants obtained from petroleum products. Depending on their composition, all mineral oils are hydrocarbons or organic compounds consisting of hydrogen and carbon. When oil is extracted from an oil well, it undergoes various degradation processes. During these processes, oils and fuels with different properties, such as viscosity, are obtained. Products with higher viscosity and lubricating properties are used as lubricants or oils. It is essential to note that mineral oils are very sensitive to temperature changes and generally have a VI up to 120. Their pour point ranges from -6°C to -60°C, but most mineral oils have a pour point of -20°C. Moreover, mineral oils easily catch fire, meaning they have lower flash points.

Because they originate from natural sources, they contain other elements such as sulfur, phosphorus, nitrogen, and more. These elements are regarded as impurities that affect lubrication and pollute the environment. They can lead to the formation of sludge and deposits, which are considered the products of oxidation and other reactions that occur during the lubrication process. For these reasons, mineral oils must undergo a refining process. Once they are purified, mineral oils are supplemented with additives to compensate for their deficiencies. Nevertheless, mineral oils are the most widely used in industry.

Synthetic oils

Synthetic oils were created in response to some of the drawbacks of using mineral oils. Mineral oils have specific limitations regarding usage. As petroleum products, they contain impurities that affect their performance. For this reason, synthetic oils are produced through chemical processes to create a more advanced alternative to mineral or traditional liquid lubricants.

Synthetic industrial oils, as synthetic petroleum products, have some positive properties. Unlike mineral oils, synthetic lubricating fluids have no impurities that reduce or eliminate the probability of deposit formation, making them a stable product. Additionally, they possess a much higher Viscosity Index, which ensures their stability at various temperatures. Since their pour point ranges between -18 degrees and -74 degrees Celsius (generally -30 to -50 degrees Celsius), their flowability at low temperatures is improved. What also makes them ideal for applications in industries where fire is considered a serious hazard is their higher flash point, which can rise to non-flammable levels.

Considering all the properties of synthetic oils, they are excellent for:

High and low temperature applications (better viscosity index), applications that require low flammability oils, conditions where compatibility with highly porous materials like rubber or plastic must be considered. Applications where sulfur and phosphorus pollution present serious risks, such as in the food industry.

Although synthetic oils are complete lubricants, they have one disadvantage compared to mineral oils. Unlike mineral oils, they are not good boundary lubricants. In other words, they have lesser lubricating properties because they do not provide the same level of lubrication as mineral oils.

Types of industrial oils, their specifications and applications.

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