Pure lubricating oil is basically non-conductive. So here comes the problem-static electricity. Because the electrical conductivity of the insulator is relatively poor, it is easy to generate static electricity when rubbed.
For the generation of static electricity, the better the insulation of the material, the easier it is to generate static electricity. The conductivity of insulators is much lower than that of conductors.
Under normal circumstances, the conductivity of lubricating oil is very low, so it can be used as insulating oil or transformer oil.
Although the role of transformer oil is not lubrication. But in some cases, lubricating oil may also conduct electricity, which is mainly related to the composition of lubricating oil and impurities contained in lubricating oil.
What factors affect the conductivity of lubricating oil?
1. The conductivity of base oil and lubricant
Lubricating oil is formulated with base oil plus additives. The lower the degree of refining of the base oil, the stronger the polarity and the relatively stronger conductivity of the oil. According to the refining method and degree of base oil, the American Petroleum Institute API classifies base oils into five categories: API I oil, API II oil, API III oil, API IV oil and API V oil.
2. The influence of additives on the conductivity of lubricating oil
In addition to the type of base oil, additives also affect the conductivity of the lubricant. Organometallic additives will increase the conductivity of the lubricant. Common organic metal additives, such as ZnDTP antiwear agent, are widely used in engine oil and hydraulic oil. It is a multifunctional additive that can resist wear, oxidation, and metal corrosion.
3. The influence of temperature on the conductivity of lubricating oil
In addition to base oils and additives, temperature also affects the conductivity of the lubricant. For the same lubricating oil, as the temperature increases, the conductivity of the lubricating oil increases. However, the relationship between lubricating oil's conductivity and temperature is not a purely proportional relationship. When the temperature rises, different lubricating oils have different increasing trends in conductivity.
4. The influence of impurities on the conductivity of lubricating oil
The conductivity of pure oil is very low, so it is insulated at room temperature. In the production of lubricating oil, some additives need to be added to the base oil to change the conductivity of the finished lubricating oil. The type of additives and the amount of metal ions lead to differences in the conductivity of the finished lubricant.
The lubricating oil should be kept clean during use. If the oil contains water or some metal powder, it will significantly change the conductivity of the lubricating oil.
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