Bearings
IKV manuafacture a full range of bearing lubricants for all types of applications. Bearings are only as effective as the lubricant used.
All environmental factors need to be taken in to consideration when selecting a lubricant including speed, load, temperature, chemicals in the environment and re-lubrication span.
Analysis of these factors enable us to select the most effective grease, oil or dry film for the application and bearing type.
Over greasing a bearing can be as destructive as under greasing so dosage is an important consideration.
Bearings
About Bearings
There are at least six common bearings & principles of operation:
- plain bearing, also known by the specific styles: bushings, journal bearings, sleeve bearings, rifle bearings
- rolling-element bearings such as ball bearings and roller bearings
- jewel bearings, in which the load is carried by rolling the axle slightly off-center
- fluid bearings, in which the load is carried by a gas or liquid
- magnetic bearings, in which the load is carried by a magnetic field
- flexure bearings, in which the motion is supported by a load element which bends.
Common motions permitted by bearings are:
- axial rotation e.g. shaft rotation
- linear motion e.g. drawer
- spherical rotation e.g. ball and socket joint
- hinge motion e.g. door, elbow, knee
Ball, roller or plain bearings, are only as durable as the lubricant used and the seals employed.
IKV supply lubricants for use in the most extreme temperatures and aggressive environments.
Bearings, lubricants & seals are often considered as three separate components however really they should be thought of as one because they are each only as reliable as the other two.
If the bearing isn’t able to perform at the given load, speed, temperature, the result is a bearing failure. If the seals fail the lubricant does not stay in the bearing, the result is bearing failure.
Often however the lubricant is the the cause of bearing failure because it is not suitable for the speed, load, temperature, or any other environmental factor,
We need to analyse the application and working environment of the bearing in order to expectation of the product by asking a few simple questions:-
• What speed is the bearing to be used at? (Speed factor)
• What loads act on the bearing? (Load factor)
• What is the maximum and minimum temperature that the bearing will experience? (Temperature factor).
• What is the nominal operating temperature?
• Are there any chemicals, solvents, acids etc or other environments that the lubricant will have to withstand?
• Is re-lubrication possible? If so how often and what is the life requirement?
Once these questions have been answered we need to decide the appropriate lubricant to give the expected life within these conditions.
Grease, Oil or Dry Film Lubricant?
For most bearings we are looking at oil or grease lubrication. A grease is simply a thickened oil; the thickener just holds the oil like a sponge and releases it under pressure as required.
We need to look at the speed factor (DN) for the bearing, this is calculated by
Speed factor = ID of the bearing in mm X the speed in rpm.i.e. a 30mm ID bearing with a rotational speed of 1000 rpm will have a speed factor of 30,000.Usually oil lubrication is needed where speeds are very high (Speed factor is > 800,000) or where the temperature of the bearing is so great that there is a need for a cooling element from the oil.
In most other applications with ball and roller bearings, grease is the preferred lubricant, it stays in place and provided it can cope with the mechanical and environmental aspects can offer ‘lifetime lubrication’.
With grease we also need to consider the fill quantity carefully as too much grease can cause as many, if not more failures than too little.
Bearings
For bearings subject to high rotation speeds or where weak torque resistance is required, the IKV polyurea thickened grease range is ideal - see details below:-
IKV UREATIC EL-2/S which has a low level and is particularly suitable for use on vertical axis bearings.
IKV UREATIC M-0 is a brown grease with a premium quality mineral base oil. It has excellent lubrication properties for a wide temperature range, from -20 ºC to 150 ºC. A specially formulated additive package also allows it to offer excellent water resistance and good load resistance. NLGI grade 0.
IKV UREATIC M-1 is a brown grease with a premium quality mineral base oil. It has excellent lubrication properties for a wide temperature range, from -20 ºC to 150 ºC. A specially formulated additive package also allows it to offer excellent water resistance and good load resistance. NLGI grade 1.
IKV UREATIC M-2 is a brown grease with a premium quality mineral base oil. It has excellent lubrication properties for a wide temperature range, from -20 ºC to 150 ºC. A specially formulated additive package also allows it to offer excellent water resistance and good load resistance. NLGI grade 2.
IKV UREATIC H-1 is a brown grease with a premium quality mineral base oil. It has excellent lubrication properties for a wide temperature range, from -20 ºC to 150 ºC. A specially formulated additive package also allows it to offer excellent water resistance and good load resistance. NLGI grade 1.
IKV UREATIC M-2/S is a blue grease with a PAO base oil. It has excellent lubrication properties for a wide temperature range, from -45 ºC to 180 ºC. A specially formulated additive package also allows it to offer excellent water resistance and good temperature capacity. NLGI grade 2. Ideal for use on bearings subjected to high rotation speeds where a weak torque resistance is required.
IKV UREATIC H-2/S is a beige grease with a PAO base oil. It has excellent lubrication properties for a wide temperature range, from -20 ºC to 150 ºC. A specially formulated additive package also allows it to offer excellent water resistance and good load resistance. NLGI grade 2. Ideal for use on bearings subjected to high rotation speeds where a weak torque resistance is required.
IKV UREATIC L-2/ES is a beige grease with an ester base oil. It has excellent lubrication properties for a wide temperature range, from -40 ºC to 180 ºC. NLGI grade 2. A long-life grease for bearings subjected to high temperatures.
IKV UREATIC H-2/ES is an ivory coloured grease with an ester base oil. It has excellent lubrication properties for a wide temperature range, from -30 ºC to 200ºC. NLGI grade 2. A long-life grease for bearings subjected to high temperatures.
IKV KOMPLEX M-2/1STF is a white coloured grease with a PAO base oil. It has excellent lubrication properties for a wide temperature range, from -40 ºC to 150ºC. NLGI grade 2. Ideal for use on EPDM seals.
The PTFE thickened range below does not have a drop point and has very good water resistance. The PTFE's power to reduce friction is a big advantage in jerky applications. The range includes products for extremes of temperature - both low & high. Please contact us for advice on the best product for your application.
IKV-FLUOR MPA 2 EL is a white grease with a PFPE base oil. It has excellent lubrication properties for a wide temperature range, from -40 ºC to 155 ºC. It also offers excellent water resistance properties and resistance to oxygen, radiation and all aggressive chemical products. NLGI grade 2.
IKV-FLUOR MP 2 TL is a white grease with a PFPE base oil. It has excellent lubrication properties for a wide temperature range, from -40 ºC to 180 ºC. NLGI grade 2.
IKV-FLUOR MP 2 L is a white grease with a PFPE base oil. It has excellent lubrication properties for a wide temperature range, from -40 ºC to 220 ºC. NLGI grade 2.
IKV-FLUOR MPA 2M is a white grease with a PFPE base oil. It has excellent lubrication properties for a wide temperature range, from -30 ºC to 280 ºC. NLGI grade 2.
IKV-FLUOR MPA 2H is a white grease with a PFPE base oil. It has excellent lubrication properties for a wide temperature range, from -30 ºC to 300 ºC. NLGI grade 2.
IKV-FLUOR MPM 2H is a black grease with a PFPE base oil. It has excellent lubrication properties for a wide temperature range, from -30 ºC to 300 ºC. NLGI grade 2. It also offers excellent water resistance properties and load resistance.
IKV-FLUOR DML-2 is a white grease with a PFPE base oil. It has excellent lubrication properties for a wide temperature range, from -50 ºC to 280 ºC. NLGI grade 2. It also offers excellent water resistance properties and good load resistance.
ZAROX DXB 32 is a white grease with a PFPE base oil. It has excellent lubrication properties for a wide temperature range, from -60 ºC to 180 ºC. NLGI grade 2. It also offers excellent water resistance properties and good load resistance.
ZAROX TYA 142 is a white grease with a PFPE base oil. It has excellent lubrication properties for a wide temperature range, from -40 ºC to 180 ºC. NLGI grade 2. It also offers excellent water resistance properties and good load resistance.
ZAROX TXA 322 is a white grease with a PFPE base oil. It has excellent lubrication properties for a wide temperature range, from -60 ºC to 250 ºC. NLGI grade 2. It also offers excellent water resistance properties and good load resistance.
IKV FLUOR and ZAROX PTFE thickened products also exist in NLGI grades 0, 1 and 3. IKV BESSIL L-2 is a Phenylmethyl silicone grease for use on precision bearings or low loaded ball bearings exposed to high temperatures.
Bearings
