In workshops and industries, different types of machines are being used to give the required output. By the movement of two mating parts of a machine, friction is produced due to which, some amount of heat is generated and it also affects the efficiency of the machine. So, a process called lubrication comes into action which is employed to reduce the friction between two surfaces that are moving relative to each other. A substance used in the process of lubrication is called lubricant. Thus, lubricants are used to reduce friction between two mating surfaces of a machine.
In a similar way, in operations like cutting, drilling, etc. two surfaces rub with each other, due to this, these surfaces are wormed out. So to keep away the spoilage of tools, a process called cooling is used which helps to cool the tools or their surfaces to prevent any type of breakage. The substance used in the process of cooling is called coolant.Â
In this chapter, we will discuss the lubricants, coolants, and the processes of using these substances.
Lubricant
With the movement of two mating parts of the machine, heat is generated. If it is not controlled, the temperature may rise resulting in total damage to the mating parts. Therefore, a film of cooling medium with high viscosity is applied between the two mating parts, which is known as a lubricant. A lubricant is a substance having an oily property available in the form of fluid, semi-fluid, or solid state. It is the lifeblood of the machine, keeping the vital parts in perfect condition and prolonging the life of the machine. It saves the machine and its parts from corrosion, wear, and tear and it minimizes friction.
Purposes of Using LubricantÂ
The purposes of using lubricant are as follows.
(i) It cools the moving elements.Â
(ii) It aids in distributing the load.
(iii) It improves the machine’s efficiency.Â
(iv) It prevents corrosion, wear and tear.
(v) It reduces friction