PEFTEC - Abstract

Abstract Information :

Between frequently moving parts in machinery, lubrication is required to protect the part and increase efficiency. Parts such as bearings are lubricated with grease, including additives and thickeners, and water content contamination can cause oxidation in the grease and wear in the part. As some examples, water contamination in grease can sink up to 25 of the cost of wind energy production, and as little as 1 contamination can reduce the lifetime of a journey bearing by 90. With higher water content, the oxidation and production of acidic compounds will heavily contribute to the destruction of the parts, incurring significant replacement and maintenance costs. Along with rust, corrosion, and erosion, water contamination can increase vaporous cavitation bubbles in grease and hydrogen embrittlement pressure cracks in metal. For the improvement of lifetime and efficiency of machines and parts, it is imperative to perform testing on the greases resistance to direct streams of water, and resistance to water contamination within parts. Existing methods such as capacitance testing are simple but dont work well for many greases due to their low flow rates. In the poster, we will discuss two instruments used for testing grease resistance to water within and without parts, and the importance of this kind of testing in a controlled, repeatable environment, in a timely and convenient manner.rn