The Purpose of Lubricants: Industrial, Automotive and Medical Lubricants

Lubricants are substances that minimize the resistance between two interacting surfaces. To use a lubricant, you simply apply it to the area impeded by friction. As soon as the lubricant hits the surface of the solid, it starts to absorb the rough molecules it comes into contact with, helping to create a smoother, less resistant surface.

However, reducing friction isn't the only use for lubricants. Other popular ways in which people use lubricants include to:

• clean surfaces
• deliver heat and/or hydrostatic power from one surface to another
• make surfaces water-resistant
• prevent corrosion.

Keep in mind that a single lubricant won't perform all of these functions. In general, different types of lubricants will excel at one or two of these uses, depending on its precise combination of ingredients.

Industrial and Automotive Lubricants

When people think of lubricants, they tend to picture those used for industrial and automotive purposes. For the most part, these types of lubricants are meant to reduce friction, rid a system of contaminants and preserve the quality of machine and/or car parts. Depending on their precise use, industrial and automotive lubricants can come in the form of:

• greases or powders, as with dry graphite
• liquids, as with motor oils and fuel additives
• solids, as with ball bearings or Teflon^™.

Because some of these lubricants can be used for the same purposes, for many industrial or automotive projects, the nature of the environment in which you use the lubricant will determine which type of lubricant will be most effective.

For example, temperature can be a key determinant when choosing between different types of lubricants. In hotter environments or in situations that will generate a lot of heat, solid lubricants work best, as some will still operate effectively at temperatures as high as 350^°C. However, because solid lubricants also tend to corrode easily, they need to be replaced frequently and, therefore, aren't used much outside of extremely hot situations.

Lubricant Terms

The terms that describe and differentiate various types of lubricants can be confusing, as they aren't necessarily commonly used. Here is a small list of some lubricant-related terms that will help you understand the unique features of different types of lubricants:

• Abrasive refers to lubricants that are particular harsh. These typically require careful handling and special disposal.
• Additives are ingredients that generally make up less than 10 percent of the lubricant's composition. Different combinations of additives give various lubricants their defining properties.
• Synthetic refers to lubricants primarily composed of man-made ingredients, as opposed to natural, organic ingredients, such as mineral or vegetable oils.
• Viscous describes lubricants that are particularly thick and harder to poor. Less viscous lubricants tend to be more watery in nature.

Medical Applications for Lubricants

Along with its industrial and automotive uses, lubricants also have some important medical purposes. Doctors and/or nurses may use gel, liquid and jelly lubricants to:

• aid the function (and reduce the resistance) of prosthetic organs or body parts
• cleanse bacteria and other harmful substances from the body
• facilitate ultrasounds and other imaging tests
• make certain exams, such as a pelvic exam, more comfortable
• prevent tissue damage when medical instruments need to be inserted in patients
• protect their expensive equipment from daily wear and tear.

As researchers continue studying new compounds and applications, more medical applications for lubricants are sure to arise.