Lubricants are essential in reducing friction and wear between moving mechanical parts. For a lubricant to work, performance additives need to be added to improve different functions of a lubricant, from protecting of metal surface to changing the properties of the fluid itself. One type of those additives are anti-wear agents. Anti-wear agents are typically used in combination with other components, specifically extreme-pressure additives, to provide surface protection for a wide range of load, speed, and temperature of operation.
Understanding how they work.
Anti-wear agents work by reducing friction and wear between moving parts as a result of a formation of a protective film on the metal surface. They are important components in engine oils, industrial lubricants like gear oils, hydraulic fluids and greases, and metal-processing applications.
Types
Major anti-wear additives are ZDDP and organic phosphorus compounds. ZDDP is highly efficient and cost-effective compound that is used extensively in automotive and industrial lubricants. In addition to its main function as an anti-wear additive, it provides oxidation and corrosion inhibition in various formulation. Organic phosphorus components, like phosphates and phosphites, are used in metal-free applications, providing, in some cases, corrosion inhibition in addition to excellent anti-wear protection.
Benefits
The primary purpose of adding this agent to lubricants is to reduce friction and prevent wear on machinery. This not only prolongs the life of equipment but also improves its efficiency. In addition, these agents can help conserve energy since they reduce friction between the moving parts, thus reducing the running cost.
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