What Is Thin Film Lubrication?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Thin film lubrication (TFL) is

a lubrication regime with a film thickness of a few nanometers to tens of nanometers

, which can be thought of as the lubrication regime between elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) and boundary lubrication, or extended boundary lubrication.

What is a lubrication film?

Fluid film lubrication is

the lubrication regime in

which, through viscous forces, the load is fully supported by the lubricant within the space or gap between the parts in motion relative to one another object (the lubricated conjunction) and solid–solid contact is avoided.

Which lubricant is suitable for thick film lubrication?


Hydrocarbon oils

are considered to be satisfactory lubrication for fluid film lubrication.

What is thin film bearing?

Body fluids are used as the lubricant for many medical devices. For example, many implantable heart pumps use blood as the lubricant in thin-film hydrodynamic bearings that support the pump rotor. In other devices, the thin film fluid cushion comes into play in the event of shock or failure of the primary bearing.

What are the two types of lubrication?

There are three different types of lubrication: boundary, mixed and full film. Each type is different, but they all rely on a lubricant and the additives within the oils to protect against wear. Full-film lubrication can be broken down into two forms:

hydrodynamic and elastohydrodynamic

.

What is full film lubrication used for?

a

continuous lubricating film thick enough to completely separate two surfaces

. Normally in full fluid-film lubrication oil adheres to the moving part and is drawn into the area between the sliding surfaces, where hydrodynamic processes form a pressure wedge.

What is lubricant and examples?

Common examples of internal lubricants include

fatty alcohols, esters (low esterification)

, and EVA wax. External lubricants provide metal release and help reduce process temperature. Common examples of external lubricants include PE waxes, paraffin, metal soaps, esters (high esterification), amides, and fatty acids.

What type of lubrication is best for the engine?

The most popular lubes are usually

moly-based (Molybdenum Disulfide)

and are designed to operate at high temperatures. Newer compounds are manufactured with additives that hold up better under extreme pressures and also act as rust inhibitors much like the compound Cosmoline.

What is it called when the rubbing surface are separated from each other by a very thin film of lubricant?

Explanation: When the rubbing surfaces are separated from each other by a very thin film of lubricant it is known as

boundary lubrication

. When the two solid surfaces sliding over each other are free from contaminating fluid or film, the resistance encountered is called dry friction.

What is the most important quality of oil film lubrication?

Considered the most important property of a lubricant,

viscosity

serves to form a lubricating film, cool machine components, and seal and control oil consumption. It has to be balanced for load, temperature and speed.

Why additives are added to lubricants?

Additives have three basic roles:

Enhance existing base oil properties with antioxidants

, corrosion inhibitors, anti-foam agents and demulsifying agents. Suppress undesirable base oil properties with pour-point depressants and viscosity index (VI) improvers.

Where are fluid bearings used?

Fluid bearings are frequently used in

high load, high speed or high precision applications

where ordinary ball bearings would have short life or cause high noise and vibration. They are also used increasingly to reduce cost.

What are sliding contact bearings?

The sliding contact bearings in which

the sliding action is along the circumference of a circle

or an arc of a circle and carrying radial loads are known as journal or sleeve bearings. … This type of bearing is commonly used in industrial machinery to accommodate bearing loads in any radial direction.

What are the 5 types of lubricants?

  • Greases. Greases are composed by utilizing oil (typically mineral oil) and combining it with thickeners (such as lithium-based soaps). …
  • Oils. These thin liquids are composed of long polymer chains with some extra additives. …
  • Penetrating Lubricants. …
  • Dry Lubricants.

What are 3 common lubricants?

There are three main types of lubricants:

oil-based, water-based, and silicone-based

.

What is the best lubricant for a woman?

  • Best Overall: Aloe Cadabra Natural Personal Lube. …
  • Best Organic: Good Clean Love Almost Naked Organic Personal Lubricant. …
  • Best Water Based: LOLA Personal Lubricant. …
  • Best For Sensitive Skin: Uberlube Luxury Lubricant. …
  • Best Silicone: Sliquid Organics Silk Lubricant. …
  • Best Flavored: WET Flavored Popp’n Cherry Edible Lube.
Rebecca Patel
Author
Rebecca Patel
Rebecca is a beauty and style expert with over 10 years of experience in the industry. She is a licensed esthetician and has worked with top brands in the beauty industry. Rebecca is passionate about helping people feel confident and beautiful in their own skin, and she uses her expertise to create informative and helpful content that educates readers on the latest trends and techniques in the beauty world.