How to choose the right lubricant for bearing ring to reduce friction and heat accumulation?
Publish Time: 2025-03-24
As a key component in mechanical equipment, the performance of bearing ring directly affects the operating efficiency and life of the equipment. Under high-speed rotation or high-load working conditions, the friction between the bearing ring and the rolling element will generate a lot of heat, which will not only cause energy loss, but also may cause material fatigue, wear and even failure. Therefore, choosing the right lubricant to reduce friction and heat accumulation is the key to ensure the efficient and stable operation of the bearing ring.
First of all, the selection of lubricant needs to be determined according to the working conditions of the bearing ring. Different working environments have different performance requirements for lubricants. For example, in a high-temperature environment, the lubricant needs to have good thermal stability and oxidation resistance to prevent the lubricant from decomposing or failing due to high temperature; while in a low-temperature environment, the lubricant needs to have a lower freezing point to ensure that it can still maintain good fluidity at low temperatures. In addition, the high-speed rotating bearing ring has high requirements for the viscosity of the lubricant. Too high viscosity will increase friction resistance, while too low viscosity may cause the lubricating film to rupture and fail to effectively isolate the metal surface. Therefore, choosing the right viscosity range is an important prerequisite for reducing friction and heat accumulation.
Secondly, the type of lubricant is also an important factor affecting the performance of the bearing ring. Common lubricants include lubricating oil, grease and solid lubricant. Lubricating oil has good fluidity and heat dissipation performance, and is suitable for high-speed and high-temperature working conditions, but its sealing is poor and it is easy to leak. Grease has good sealing and adhesion, and is suitable for low-speed and heavy-load working conditions, but its heat dissipation performance is relatively poor. Solid lubricants (such as graphite, molybdenum disulfide, etc.) are suitable for extreme environments, such as vacuum, high temperature or strong radiation conditions, but their lubrication effect is usually not as good as liquid lubricants. Therefore, when selecting lubricants, it is necessary to comprehensively consider the working conditions, sealing requirements and heat dissipation requirements of the bearing ring, and select the most suitable type of lubricant.
In addition, lubricant additives also play an important role in reducing friction and heat accumulation. Modern lubricants usually contain a variety of additives, such as anti-wear agents, extreme pressure agents, antioxidants and rust inhibitors. Anti-wear agents and extreme pressure agents can form a protective film under high load conditions, reduce direct contact between metal surfaces, and thus reduce friction and wear; antioxidants can delay the aging process of lubricants and extend their service life; rust inhibitors can prevent the surface of the bearing ring from rusting due to moisture or corrosive media. By properly selecting additives, the performance of the lubricant can be significantly improved, and friction and heat accumulation can be further reduced.
In practical applications, the supply method of the lubricant also has an important impact on the performance of the bearing ring. Common lubrication methods include oil bath lubrication, circulation lubrication, and jet lubrication. Oil bath lubrication is suitable for low-speed and light-load working conditions. Its structure is simple, but the heat dissipation effect is poor; circulation lubrication circulates the lubricating oil to the bearing ring through an oil pump, which is suitable for high-speed and heavy-load working conditions. Its heat dissipation effect is good, but the system is complex; jet lubrication sprays the lubricating oil onto the surface of the bearing ring through a high-pressure nozzle, which is suitable for extremely high-speed working conditions. Its lubrication effect is the best, but the cost is high. Therefore, when choosing a lubrication method, it is necessary to comprehensively consider the working conditions, heat dissipation requirements, and cost factors of the bearing ring to select the most appropriate lubrication method.
Finally, the maintenance and replacement of lubricants are also important links to ensure the efficient operation of bearing rings. With the increase of usage time, lubricants will gradually age, become contaminated or fail, resulting in a decrease in lubrication effect and an increase in friction and heat accumulation. Therefore, regular inspection of the state of lubricants and timely replacement or replenishment of lubricants are effective means to reduce friction and heat accumulation. In addition, keeping the lubrication system clean and preventing impurities from entering the lubricant can also extend the service life of the lubricant and improve the performance of the bearing ring.
In general, the selection of suitable lubricants to reduce friction and heat accumulation requires a comprehensive consideration of the working conditions, lubricant types, additives, supply methods and maintenance strategies of the bearing ring. Through scientific selection and reasonable maintenance, the performance of the bearing ring can be significantly improved, its service life can be extended, and a strong guarantee can be provided for the efficient and stable operation of mechanical equipment. With the continuous development of lubrication technology, future lubricants will be more intelligent and environmentally friendly, bringing more possibilities for the application of bearing rings.
