The Different Types of Lubricants
Lubricants have lots of uses in many different machines and engines. At the end of the day, the purpose of a lubricant is to minimize the wear and tear between surfaces. They reduce the high temperatures that come about when two components make contact. In short, they’re essential to the proper running of various machines in our lives!
Want to maintain your vehicle? Make sure you know which lubricant to use, as there are many different types. Luckily, we’re here to break down the different types of lubricants—take a look!
Solid Lubricant (Dry)
As the name suggests, a solid lubricant features a rigid material. These lubricants are not in liquid form. The forms that they do come in include:
- Powders
- Suspensions
- Metallic films
- Bonded
There are also a few different varieties of solid lubricants. These subcategories include metal-solid, polymer, ceramic, and more.
Semi-Solid Lubricant (Grease)
Next up are semi-solid lubricants, or grease. You see, grease falls in between liquid and solid, as it has properties of both. Grease is a very popular lubricant and has several different applications. Common uses for grease include:
- Lubricating machines that stay in storage. The grease will stay in place and won’t wear down over time.
- Machines that operate under extreme temperatures.
- Lubricating worn-down components that can’t use oil anymore.
Grease consists of a mix of base oil, additives, and thickeners.
Liquid Lubricant
Liquids are the most popular type of lubricant that’s used today. They’re used in machinery, cooking, and much more. There are a few different types of liquid lubricants. They all consist of a base oil and a few additives. Types of liquid lubricants include:
- Mineral oil. These lubricants come from crude oil. Mineral oils are used in many types of vehicles and machines. Synthetic oil is a type of mineral oil that can withstand harsh conditions. When it comes to vehicles, heavy machinery, and even planes, gear oil is a popular choice. You’ll find a variety of these mineral oils in your day-to-day.
- Vegetable oil. You’ll be very familiar with this type of oil if you cook often. It’s ideal for cooking and consists of rapeseed and castor. There are lots of health benefits associated with cooking food in vegetable oil.
- Animal oil. Finally, we have oils that are extracted from animals. They come from fats extracted from animals and fish. For example, you’ve probably heard of people taking fish oil as a supplement.
There you have the different types of lubricants. Hopefully this will come in handy in the future!
