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EngineeringEssentials:LubricationTipsforPlasticGearsand
More(Part2)
MotionSystemDesign

RichardGianattasio
Tue,2000080112:00

Tolearnthetricksofcaringforindustrialdrives,especiallyoptimumlubricationmethods,takesmanyyears
offieldexperience,orlearningfromotherswithexperience.

Plasticcomponents
Q:Whatlubricant(ifany)shouldIuseonplasticbearingsandgears?
A:Manyengineersandmaintenancepersonnelhavemisconceptionsthatplasticcomponentseitherrequire
specialplasticlubricantsornolubricants.
Whereverpossible,youshouldlubricateplasticcomponentstoreducefrictionandwear,andincrease
componentlife.Testsshowthatlubricatedplasticslidingbearingslastuptofivetimeslongerthan
nonlubricatedones.
Related
EngineeringEssentials:LubricationTips(Part1)
EngineeringEssentials:LubricationTips&TheEffectofWater(Part3)
Evenselflubricatingplasticmaterials,suchasPTFE(Teflon),benefitfromlubrication,Figure1.Atspeeds
over1rpm,frictionforanonlubricatedTeflonsleevebearingincreases,whereasitdecreasesfora
lubricatedbearing.
Tooptimizelubricationofplasticcomponents,youshouldabidebyonebasicguideline:choosealubricant
thatiscompatiblewiththeplasticmaterial.Compatibilitymustbeverifiedunderallanticipatedadverse
conditionsofload,speed,andenvironment.Incompatibleplasticlubricantcombinationsoftencause
operatingproblemssuchasstresscrackingorfailureoftheplasticcomponent.
Table1givesgeneralcompatibilityguidelines.Formorespecificinformation,consultthemanufacturersof
theplasticcomponentandlubricant.
Q:Whataffectsthecompatibilitybetweenlubricantsandplastics?
A:Compatibilityfactorsincludethelubricantschemistry(baseoil,thickeners,andadditives),viscosity,and
agingresistance.
Chemistry.Typically,lubricantsbasedonsilicone,PFAE(perflourinated),mostsynthetichydrocarbons

(SHCorPAO),ormineraloilsworkwellwithplastics.Lubricantsbasedonestersorpolyglycolsare
generallynotcompatiblewithplastics,althoughthereareexceptionsdependingonthetypeofplastic.
Incompatiblelubricantscauseplasticstolosedimensionalstabilityorstructuralintegrity,orbecome
discolored.Tocheckforcompatibility,manufacturerstestphysicalpropertiesoftheplasticmaterial
includingvolume,weight,elongation,strength,andhardness.Eachmanufacturersetslimitsonthe
allowablechangeinthesematerialproperties,typically7to10%.Inevaluatingsuchtests,besurethey
reflectyourworstcaseconditions.Bothlubricantsandplasticmaterialsaremorepronetochangesathigher
temperaturesorinadverseenvironments,especiallywithhighdynamicloads.
Additivessometimescausealubricanttoreactwithplastic.Forexample,solidadditives,suchasgraphiteor
molybdenumdisulfide(moly),canpenetrateandweakenaplasticcomponentandshouldgenerallybe
avoided.Ontheotherhand,PTFEsolidadditivesareusefulinspecificcasessuchasreducingstartup
frictionorprovidingdrylubrication.
EPadditivesusedinlubricatingmetalpartsarenotrecommendedforplasticparts.Moreover,large
amountsofcorrosionprotectorsormetaldeactivatoradditivesusedwithmetalpartsarealsounnecessary
forplastics.
Viscosity/NLGIgrade.Highviscosityoils,generallyISOVG100ormore,arelessapttopenetrateand
adverselyaffectplasticmaterials.Forgreases,anNLGI1or0consistencyreducesfrictionandgrease
inducednoise(greaseslap).
Agingresistance.Aslubricantsage,theyaremorelikelytoattackplastic.Therefore,longtermplastic
applicationscallforsyntheticlubricants,whichhaveahighagingresistance.Outgassingbyproductsof
plastic,suchasformaldehydeorstyrene,acceleratethelubricantagingprocess.
Recommendations.Mineraloilbasedlubricantsdontattackmostplasticmaterialsandofferexcellent
performanceforthedollaringeneralplasticsapplications.
However,withthetrendtohigheroperatingspeeds,highertemperatures,andlongeroperation,companies
areturningtosyntheticlubricants,suchashydrocarbon(PAO)types,forplasticbearingsandgears.PAOs
offerhighagingresistance,compatibilitywithmostplastics,andlongtermlubricationwithinatemperature
rangeof60to320F.
PFAElubricantsareoneofthemostcompatibletypes,evenwithhardtomatchplastics.SimilartoPAOoils,
theyofferagoodbalancebetweenadhesionandwettingofplasticsurfaces.Probablytheirwidestuseisfor
extremetemperatureapplications,upto500F.Becauseoftheirhighcost,usePFAEoilsonlywhere
necessary.
Siliconebasedlubricantsalsoshowexcellentcompatibility.Theyaresuitableforlowloadapplicationsanda
widetemperaturerange(typically90to425F).
SourceURL:http://machinedesign.com/mechanicaldrives/engineeringessentialslubricationtips
plasticgearsandmorepart2