Trends in Industrial Gear Oils

An alarming 30 percent of recently surveyed U.S. industrial companies said they experienced a lubricant-related gearbox failure within the last year (Ref. 1). These failures were most likely due to extreme operating temperatures that created break-point stress on critical gearbox parts such as seals, bearings and gear teeth. These higher operating temperatures are fueled by the demand for 1) more power; 2) a smaller footprint; and 3) decreased oil volume. Today’s equipment also must handle increased loads while contending with a host of contaminants, including water. Dealing with these demanding conditions requires gear oil that is formulated to reduce stress in a number of ways. The basic requirements for today’s industrial gear oils are: • Appropriate viscosity • Oxidative and thermal stability • Solid load-carrying capacity • Demulsibility (ability to shed water) • Resistance to foaming • Protection against rust and corrosion