The silicone spray is a widely used lubricant that works like other variants of lubricants. However, the Silicone spray arrives with unique properties that make it a better choice for various tasks. The silicone spray properties are a little different from the other fluids that make it a versatile choice for a variety of purposes.
The unique characteristics of the product may make you think what is silicone spray made of? Well, keep reading the article to know the chemical structure of the silicone spray. We will also let you know the uses of the silicone spray.
What is Silicone Spray Made of?
Silicone fluids or the silicon sprays are based on silicon-oxygen linkage. The molecular is more potent than the carbon-to-carbon tie. That means it can ensure you more resistance against oxidation, temperature, stresses, and chemicals. The dynamic properties of the silicone spray make its low viscosity. That means the thickness of the silicone spray will not change much like the other non-silicone fluids.
The silicone lubricant also offers excellent stability in high-temperature exposure. Besides, it is also highly thermally conductive, as the hydrocarbon fluids. They are also chemically inserted in most types of construction material. Another excellent thing is, the lubricant is its low flammability. The typical silicone spray’s flashpoint varies around 205-degree to 260-degree when the auto-ignition temperature varies around 438 to 460 degrees Celsius.
The silicone spray also doesn’t include any acidic properties that can cause staining or corrosion on the surface. It also has less surface tension that assists in providing efficient and easy spreading. Some other amazing properties of the silicone spray include shear stability, dielectric properties, oxidation stability, thermal stability, etc. Such characteristics make the lubricant stands out when compared with the others.
Uses for Silicone Spray Lubricant
The versatile silicone spray can be used on various applications and surfaces, including metal, plastic, rubber, wood, etc. It leaves an odorless, transparent, nontoxic, and long-term film suitable for almost any material. Below, we will list some of the applications where you can use the silicone spray
Lubrication
Silicone spray is widely used as a lubricant because of its effectivity on most surfaces, including non-corrosive and nonreactive. Notably, it works amazingly on the hard surfaces in a variety of environments and temperature range. You can use it for lubing the gas-cap doors, plastic latches, door, hood, deck-lid, lift-gate hinges, etc.Silicone sprays also don’t oxidize, which means longevity.
Water Resistant Applications
As we said earlier, the silicone sprays arrive with excellent water-resistant. That is why it is used in various products that come in touch with the water to resist moisture. Such as, silicone spray is used in the exposed boat metals for rust protection. The spray can also be applied in the fishing supplies that are made of steel or iron.
Rubber Treatment
The spray is also an excellent choice when it comes to saving the rubber surface from cracking. You can apply the spray on the rubber gaskets or any other rubber items to produce a seal that can protect against cracking. Such a rubber treatment will ensure that there is no moisture leak to increase the rubber surface’s longevity. The spray is used in prosthetic devices, body implants, heat resistant insulator, and such other things.
Food-Grade Silicone Spray Uses
The food-grade silicone spray is colorless, odorless, and test-less lubricant that is safe for consumption. It is typically used in food processing and also for lubricating surfaces. The spray is used for lubricating various parts of the food processing machines. Apart from enhancing the machine’s performance, it can also resist rust. The spray can also withstand the food from gumming and sticking in the processing machines. It can protect the food for unclean and toxic conditions.
Other Uses of Silicone Spray
The uses of silicone spray are not limited to the things mentioned above. The versatility of the spray also makes it suitable for a wide variety of application:
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The spray can be used in sliding glass doors, garage doors, and car window tracks for smoother opening and closing.
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You can use the silicone spray in your shovel so that the snows don’t stick on it.
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Silicone can also be used on the garden pruning tools to prevent getting stiff and challenging to use. The spray can also prolong their life.
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If you have hard to utilize zippers in bag, clothes, etc. things then you can use the spray for making it smoother. Make sure to clean the zipper before lubricating.
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The lubricant spray can also be used to prolong the life of the razor blades. It can help to prevent friction and keep the blade sharper for a long time.
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You can use the spray to remove super glue from the finger and remove stickers from the jar. It can also be used for removing scuff marks from the linoleum floor and tiles.
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Silicone spray can make your wooden tools water-repellent. Besides, it can prevent the wood from splintering or drying out.
Where not to Use
Silicone spray is suitable for various applications, but you shouldn’t use it in certain conditions. Such as, the lubrication properties of the silicone spray can make the surface extremely slippery. That means you should not be used on the ground surface where peoples work. Besides, never use the spray on painted surfaces as the paint can absorb it and make the surface hard to clean.
Common lubrication mistakes to avoid – to improve machine reliability
Understanding Greases
- When a thickening agent is dissolved in the base oil, grease is produced as a solid or semi-solid.
- Grease’s last specific qualities are provided by special performance additives. Grease has about these ingredients.
- The Base Oil Viscosity of the lubricant contained in the grease must be taken into account while evaluating the rating of that grease.
- Pumpability, thermal and mechanical stability, anti-wear, EP additives, oil bleed, oxidation resistance, and water resistance may all be taken into consideration when choosing a certain grease.
Compatibility of Lubricants
“Grease is not just grease,” they say. Make that the suggested lubricant is compatible with the existing lubrication in terms of thickeners, additives, etc. before introducing a new lubricant. To make sure your lube is suitable, check the box or get in touch with the distributor or producer of the lubricant. Grease incompatibility can result in internal frictional forces within the bearing that can lead to heat generation and eventual bearing failure. If the new lubricant is not compatible with automatic lube systems, you could have system failure due to clogged lines, metering valves, or excessive pressure. When choosing or using a particular grease, seal compatibility should also be taken into account. Failure might lead to wearing, damage, downtime, and output loss.
Over/Under Lubricating
Many work orders specify how many “shots from a grease gun” should be used to lube a bearing. The issue is that various grease gun models from the same manufacturer as well as grease guns from other manufacturers might have varied delivery quantities. For instance, a typical grease gun delivery is estimated to have 30 strokes per ounce. Therefore, if you do not account for a computation of the output per stroke, grease guns with larger or lower volumes might harm a bearing.
As a cure, others suggest “pump it in until you see it oozing out of the bearing”. Keep in mind that too much or too little oil can be dangerous. Due to increased internal friction in a bearing caused by a grease’s viscosity, heat can accumulate. Like the difference between attempting to stir honey and trying to stir peanut butter, there is more friction when the fat is thicker.
Application of Greases
Another typical lubrication issue is not using the correct methods when manually attaching and detaching a grease gun. At every coupler angle up to 15 degrees, hydraulic couplers and fittings are made to offer a hydraulic seal. The coupler will disconnect if you go past this angle. The following elements should be included in a proper procedure.
- Before lubricating, clean the fittings (do not introduce contaminants of the bearing).
- Lever the gun’s handle to lubricate, being careful not to harm the seals with too much pressure or lubrication.
- After lubricating, rotate the coupler at a little angle to let the coupler jaws lose their hold. Coupler should be centered on the fitting after being pushed onto it at a modest angle. An inadequate application might lead to regularly broken fittings and couplers or the fitting not absorbing grease correctly.
The location of the plunger seal (follower) in the grease gun is also crucial to remember if you are transitioning from utilizing grease in cartridges to bulk grease or vice versa. The adherent is shaped like a cup. The cup must open toward the head assembly when the grease gun is put together for use with bulk lubricant; otherwise, you will not obtain any suction when trying to fill the gun or when trying to discharge it because the grease will bypass the piston. Make careful to remove the follower and spring from the container tube and flip the follower lip from the back to convert the grease gun to enable filling from bulk containers or filler pumps.
Misunderstanding Automatic Lubrication Systems
There are two widespread myths about automated lubrication systems:
Misconception #1 – Automated lubrication systems maintain themselves
Not at all. A person must still check that all the lines are connected, there are no leaks, the pump is still working, and the metering valves are in good working order before using lube systems to help reduce maintenance costs, and downtime, improve productivity, or extend the life of your equipment, etc. Failure to comply with this risked bearing failure.
Misconception #2 – On startup, automatic lubricating systems prime and flush the lines
Not at all. An auto lube system’s primary function is to resupply the lubricant used in the bearings. A system only releases tiny, precisely calculated quantities of lubricant at regular, predetermined (timed) intervals. Premature wear and bearing failure can result from relying on the metering valves to prime and flush the lines at startup while the bearings are operating.
You will be on your way to a far more problem-free and cost-effective lubrication program and witness better machine dependability if you are aware of these frequent lubrication problems and follow the advice provided in this article.
Lack of Procedures
Just like a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, effective lubrication programs are only as good as the individuals who implement them. The retirement of technicians has been a major issue in several of my most recent projects.
As Baby Boomers approach retirement age and eventually retire, they bring a wealth of professional expertise and personal experience with them.
In certain factories, a single individual may have served in the role of lubricant technician for many years. These experts are experts in their fields and are familiar with every appearance, sound, and smell of their equipment.
It is crucial to transmit this level of commitment and knowledge to the next workforce of professionals. Unfortunately, most of this information does not being handed down. This causes issues and a challenging learning curve.
Over greasing
A relatively common issue, over-greasing can lead to greater operating temperatures, early bearing failure, and a higher chance of contaminant penetration. A specific amount of grease must be used to adequately lubricate bearings. The outer diameter (in inches) times the breadth (in inches) times 0.114 is a common formula for calculating the volume of grease required.
You must determine how much oil the grease cannon is discharging every stroke after calculating the volume of grease required for the bearing. Pump ten jets of grease onto a plate, then weigh it using a digital scale. Next, divide the grease’s weight by 10.