nhbb :: hitech engineering

lubrication

Bearing lubrication reduces friction and wear, acts as a coolant, minimizes contamination, prevents corrosion, and generally extends bearing life. Selecting the best lubricant for your specific application becomes a very important decision; however, choosing from the hundreds available can be an overwhelming task. NHBB’s engineering staff is available to help make the right choice for your application.

Oil

Oil is the basic lubricant for ball and roller bearings. The main advantage of an oil lubricant is that there is less bearing torque. The use of synthetic oils such as diesters, silicone polymers, and fluorinated compounds has improved volatility and viscosity characteristics and increased temperature properties.

Grease

Grease is an oil to which a thickener has been added to prevent oil migration from the lubrication site. It is used in situations where frequent replenishment of the lubricant is undesirable or impossible. Generally, a grease can take higher loads and higher temperatures than an oil. All of the oil types mentioned in this section can be used as grease bases to which are added metallic soaps, synthetic fillers, and thickeners. The operative properties of grease depend almost wholly on the base oil.

Solid Film

A solid film lubricant can range from simple sacrificial retainers, graphite, or molydisulfide powders, to complexion sputtering or plating. Each type must be engineered for the specific application. They are very useful in areas of temperature extremes, vacuum, radiation, pressure, or harsh environments where conventional lubricants would fail. Solid film lubricants do not deteriorate in storage.

Lubrication

NHBB Code	Brand Name	Type	Military Specification	Operating Temp Max.	General Comments
L01	Windsor Lube L-245X	Diester, Synthetic Oil	MIL-L-6085	-65°F to 250°F	Light general purpose instrument oil, low volatility.
L02	Anderol L-401D	Diester, Synthetic Oil	MIL-L-6085	-65°F to 250°F	Light general purpose instrument oil, low volatility.
LY115	Krytox 143AC	Fluorinated Oil		-30°F to 550°F	High temperature stability.
LG20	Beacon 325	Diester, Synthetic Grease		-65°F to 250°F	Nonchanneling. General purpose grease. NLGI 2*
LG39	Andok C	Petroleum Grease		-20°F to 250°F	Channeling. Smooth running, long life with minimum migration . NLGI 4*
LY17	Rheotemp 500	Ester Grease		-65°F to 400°F	High speed, high temp specialty lube; spindle, instrument, and aircraft bearings. NLGI 2*
LY48	Mobil 28	Petroleum Grease, Synthetic	MIL-G-81322	-85°F to 350°F	Nonchanneling. Wide temperature range, good low temp torque. Aircraft, general purpose. NLGI 2*
LG4	Aeroshell 22	Petroleum Grease, Synthetic	MIL-G-81322	-85°F to 350°F	Nonchanneling. Wide temperature range, good low temp torque. Aircraft, general purpose. NLGI 2*
LG68	Royco 27A	Diester Grease	MIL-G-23827	-65°F to 250°F	General purpose, low volatility. NLGI 2*
LY101	Krytox 240AC	Fluorinated Grease		-30°F to 550°F	High temperature stability. NLGI 2*
LY308	Braycote 601	Perfluorinated Polyether Grease		-112°F to 400°F	Wide temperature range, vacuum applications. NLGI 2*
LY223	Brayco Micronic 815Z	Perfluorinated Polyether Oil		-112°F to 400°F	Wide temperature range, vacuum applications.
LY51	Isoflex NBU15	Synthetic Oil Barium Complex Grease		-40°F to 265°F	High speed, spindle quality grease. NLGI 2*

*National Lubricating Grease Institute—number refers to grease thickness.