Ethan Clarke
Lubricating plastic parts is essential to reducing friction and wear, lowering power consumption, and increasing the life of the components. While some believe that plastic parts do not require lubrication, the truth is that they benefit from it just as metal parts do. The key consideration when choosing a lubricant for plastic parts is compatibility, as using an incompatible lubricant can lead to issues such as stress cracking, discolouration, and loss of structural integrity. Mineral-oil-based lubricants are a good option for general plastic applications as they are compatible with most plastics and offer excellent performance at a reasonable cost. However, for high-speed, high-temperature, or long-term applications, synthetic lubricants with high aging resistance, such as hydrocarbon (PAO) types, are preferred. Other factors to consider when selecting a lubricant include its viscosity and the presence of additives, as these can also impact the effectiveness and compatibility of the lubricant with plastic parts.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Why lubricate plastic parts | Reduces friction and wear, lowers power consumption, and increases part life |
| Choosing a lubricant | The most important factor is whether the lubricant is compatible with the plastic material |
| Factors that contribute to compatibility | Lubricant's chemistry (base oil, thickeners, and additives), viscosity, and resistance to aging |
| Lubricants to avoid | Vegetable oil, mineral oil, WD-40, esters, polyglycols, and petroleum-based lubricants |
| Recommended lubricants | Synthetic lubricants (hydrocarbon PAO types), silicone-based lubricants, mineral-oil-based lubricants, white lithium grease, food-grade lubricants |
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What You'll Learn
Mineral-oil-based lubricants are a good option for plastics
Lubricating plastic parts is essential as it helps reduce friction and wear, lowers power consumption, and increases the life of the parts. When choosing a lubricant for plastic parts, the most important factor is the lubricant's compatibility with the plastic material. Using an incompatible lubricant can cause the plastic to develop stress cracking, discolouration, or loss of structural integrity.
Mineral oils have good compatibility across different plastics and can be used in blends with synthetic oils. They are a good all-around option and offer excellent operational performance with plastics. However, if your application requires high operating speeds, high temperatures, or long-term operation, synthetic lubricants like PAO hydrocarbons may be a better choice due to their higher ageing resistance and long-term lubrication capabilities.
In addition to mineral oils and synthetic lubricants, other options that are compatible with plastics include silicone-based lubricants, perfluorinated PFAE, and SHC (synthetic hydrocarbons). These lubricants typically work well with plastics and can provide excellent compatibility and performance in various temperature ranges and load applications.
When choosing a mineral-oil-based lubricant for plastic parts, it is important to consider the specific type of plastic and its compatibility with the lubricant. Manufacturers can help verify the compatibility of lubricants with plastics by monitoring changes in physical properties such as weight, volume, hardness, strength, and elongation under different conditions.
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Synthetic lubricants are better for high operating speeds
Lubricating plastic parts is important as it reduces friction and wear, lowers power consumption, and increases the life of the part. When choosing a lubricant for plastic parts, it is important to consider the compatibility of the lubricant with the plastic material. Synthetic lubricants are a good choice for high operating speeds and high temperatures.
Synthetic lubricants have several advantages over conventional mineral oils. Firstly, they offer great reliability, especially at high temperatures and in demanding applications. Synthetic lubricants allow equipment to operate for longer periods without requiring frequent oil changes. This reduces equipment wear and maintenance requirements, resulting in significant cost savings. Synthetic lubricants also have a higher viscosity index, which means that their viscosity changes less with temperature variations during normal engine startup and operating conditions. This viscosity stability ensures that the lubricating film provides improved protection at higher temperatures.
The use of higher-quality, more refined base oils in synthetic lubricants results in decreased fluid friction, reduced drag on internal engine parts, and an increase in horsepower and torque. With reduced friction and improved lubrication, engine life is extended. Additionally, the decreased drag on internal engine parts leads to increased engine efficiency and reduced fuel consumption. Synthetic lubricants also offer better temperature performance, with improved low-temperature performance and quicker lubrication during cold weather.
While synthetic lubricants may exhibit slightly less fuel economy at highway speeds compared to mineral oils, they still offer overall improved fuel economy due to their enhanced lubrication properties. Synthetic lubricants are also less volatile, resulting in less loss of oil through the engine's exhaust stream and reduced atmospheric pollution. The choice between synthetic and conventional mineral oils depends on various factors, including operating conditions, temperature ranges, and cost considerations. However, synthetic lubricants are particularly well-suited for applications requiring high operating speeds, high temperatures, or long-term operation.
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Avoid using WD-40, vegetable oil, and other food products
Lubrication is essential for reducing friction and wear, lowering power consumption, and increasing the life of plastic parts. When choosing a lubricant for plastic parts, the most important factor is the lubricant's compatibility with the plastic material. Using an incompatible lubricant can cause the plastic to develop stress cracking, become discoloured, or lose dimensional stability or structural integrity.
While WD-40 is often touted as a universal solution to keep things moving, it is not the best choice for lubricating plastic parts. Although WD-40 can be useful during the run-in period of polymer bearings with integrated solid lubricant particles, making it easier for solid lubricants to spread between the shaft and bearing, it is not recommended for long-term use. WD-40 may not significantly improve the performance or service life of plastic bearings and could potentially cause undesirable effects over time.
Vegetable oil, such as sunflower oil, can be used as a temporary lubricant for plastic parts. However, it tends to turn gummy after prolonged use, causing issues and requiring cleaning and replenishment. Vegetable oil may also go rancid, emitting a foul odour. Therefore, it is not a suitable long-term solution for lubricating plastic parts.
Food products, in general, are not recommended for lubricating plastic parts. They can attract dirt and debris, leading to increased friction and wear. Additionally, food products may not have the necessary viscosity or lubrication properties to effectively reduce friction and may even dissolve the plastic over time. It is best to avoid using food products as lubricants and opt for specifically designed lubricants that are compatible with plastic.
To summarise, when lubricating plastic parts, it is crucial to select a lubricant that is chemically compatible with the specific plastic material. While WD-40 and vegetable oil might offer temporary solutions in certain scenarios, they are not ideal for long-term use due to potential drawbacks. Food products should also be avoided to prevent attracting contaminants and causing further issues. Instead, opt for lubricants specifically designed for use with plastics, such as mineral oils, synthetic hydrocarbons (like PAO), or silicone-based lubricants.
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Silicone-based lubricants are compatible with plastics
When choosing a lubricant for plastic parts, compatibility is key. The wrong lubricant can cause immediate damage to plastic parts, or the effects may manifest after prolonged chemical action combined with mechanical stress. This can cause copious and often irreparable damage to plastic parts, such as stress cracking, discolouration, or loss of dimensional stability or structural integrity.
Silicone-based lubricants are inert towards plastics and elastomers, meaning they do not produce structural variations. This makes them a versatile solution, not only for lubricating plastics but also for use in the operation of numerous mixed couplings, such as rubber-plastic or metal-plastic.
Other lubricants that typically work well with plastics include those based on perfluorinated PFAE, mineral oils, and synthetic hydrocarbons (SHC or PAO). However, esters and polyglycols are generally not compatible with plastics, although there are exceptions depending on the type of plastic material.
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Lubricants with extreme pressure additives are not recommended
Lubricants play a crucial role in reducing friction and wear, lowering power consumption, and increasing the life of plastic components. However, it is imperative to select the right type of lubricant, as some lubricants with specific additives can be detrimental to plastic parts.
Extreme pressure (EP) additives in lubricants are designed to prevent metal-to-metal contact under extremely high loads. These additives work in conjunction with metal surfaces to form protective films that safeguard them from scuffing, welding, and wear. Examples of EP additives include sulphur-based compounds, phosphorus-based compounds, and chlorine-based compounds. While these additives are beneficial for metal surfaces, they are not recommended for use with plastic parts.
The reason for this is that plastic and metal have different chemical structures and require different types of lubrication. EP additives are tailored to the specific needs of metal surfaces and can have unintended reactions with plastic. Solid additives like graphite and molybdenum disulfide, for instance, can penetrate and weaken plastic parts, leading to a loss of structural integrity. On the other hand, PTFE solid additives can be beneficial for plastic parts, as they provide dry lubrication and reduce startup friction.
Additionally, plastic parts do not require the same level of pressure resistance as metal components. The primary purpose of lubricating plastic parts is to reduce friction and extend their lifespan, rather than to withstand extreme pressure. Therefore, it is recommended to select lubricants that are specifically designed for plastic compatibility, such as mineral-oil-based lubricants or synthetic lubricants like hydrocarbon (PAO) types, which offer excellent performance and compatibility with most plastics.
In summary, lubricants with extreme pressure additives are not recommended for plastic parts due to potential chemical incompatibility and the specific needs of plastic lubrication. It is crucial to choose lubricants that are compatible with plastic to ensure the structural integrity and longevity of plastic components.
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Frequently asked questions
Lubricating plastic parts reduces friction and wear, lowers power consumption, and increases the life of the part. For example, studies have shown that lubricated plastic sliding bearings last up to five times longer than non-lubricated ones.
Lubricants that should be avoided for plastic parts include: WD-40, vegetable oil, mineral oil, esters, polyglycols, and petroleum-based lubricants.
Suitable lubricants for plastic parts include: silicone-based lubricants, synthetic hydrocarbons (SHC or PAO), mineral oils, white lithium grease, and food-grade lubricants.
