Other functions

Lubrication are frequently used for purposes other than the reduction of friction. Some of these applications are described below.

Power transmission. Lubricants are widely employed as hydraulic fluids in fluid transmission devices.

Insulation. In specialized applications such as transformers and switchgear , lubricants with high dielectric constants acts as electrical insulators. For maximum insulating properties, a lubricant must be kept free of contaminants and water.

Shock dampening. Lubricants act as shock-dampening fluids in energy transferring devices such as shock absorbers and around machine parts such as gears that are subjected to high intermittent loads.

Sealing. Lubricating grease frequently performs the special function of forming a seal to retain lubricants or to  exclude contaminants.

The object of lubrication is to reduce friction ,wear , and heating of machine pars which move relative to each other. A lubricant is any substance which, when inserted between the moving surfaces, accomplishes these purposes. Most lubricants are liquids(such as mineral oil, silicone fluids, and water),but they may be solid for use in dry bearings, greases for use in rolling element bearing, or gases(such as air) for use in gas bearings. The physical and chemical interaction between the lubricant and lubricating surfaces must be understood in order to provide the machine elements with satisfactory life.源1自3吹冰8.论~文'网·www.chuibin.com

The understanding of boundary lubrication is normally attributed to hardy and doubleday , who found the extrememly thin films adhering to surfaces were often sufficient to assist relative sliding. They concluded that under such circumstances the chemical composition of fluid is important, and they introduced the term “boundary lubrication”. Boundary lubrication is at the opposite end of the spectrum from hydrodynamic lubrication.

Five distinct of forms of lubrication that may be defined :(a) hydrodynamic; (b)hydrostatic;(c)elastohydrodynamic (d)boundary; (e)solid film.

Hydrodynamic lubrication means that the load-carrying surfaces of the bearing are separated by a relatively thick film of lubricant, so as to prevent metal contact, and that the stability thus obtained can be explained by the laws of the lubricant under pressure ,though it may be; but it does require the existence of an adequate supply at all times. The film pressure is created by the moving surfaces itself pulling the lubricant under pressure, though it maybe. The film pressure is created by the moving surface to creat the pressure  necessary to separate the surfaces against the load on the bearing . hydrodynamic lubrication is also called full film ,or fluid lubrication .

Hydrostatic lubrication is obtained by introducing the lubricant ,which  is sometime air or water ,into the load-bearing area at a pressure high enough to separate the surface with a relatively thick film of lubricant. So ,unlike hydrodynanmic lubrication, motion of one surface relative to another is not required .

Elasohydrodynamic lubrication is the phenomenon that occurs when a lubricant is introduced between surfaces which are in rolling contact, such as mating gears or rolling bearings. The mathematical explanation requires the hertzian theory of contact stress and fluid mechanics.

When bearing must be operated at exetreme temperatures, a solid film lubricant such as graphite or molybdenum disulfide must be use used because the ordinary mineral oils are not satisfactory. Must research is currently being carried out in an effort, too, to find composite bearing materials with low wear rates as well as small frictional coefficients.

In a journal bearing, a shaft rotates or oscillates within the bearing , and the relative motion is sliding . in  an antifriction bearing, the main relative motion is rolling . a  follower may either roll or slide on the cam. Gear teeth mate with each other by a combination of rolling and sliding . pistions  slide within their cylinders. All these applications require lubrication to reduce friction ,wear, and heating.