ASTM F2161-01

Standard Guide for Instrument and Precision Bearing Lubricants-Part 1 Oils

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
The purpose of this guide is to report on the testing of, to discuss and compare the properties of, and to provide guidelines for the choice of lubricants for precision rolling element bearings (PREB). The PREB are, for the purposes of this guide, meant to include bearings of ABEC 5 quality and above. This guide limits its scope to oils used in PREB and is to be followed by a similar document to encompass greases used in PREB.
The number of lubricants, both oils and greases, used in PREB increased dramatically from the early 1940s to the mid 1990s. In the beginning of this period, petroleum products were the only widely available base stocks. Later, synthetic lubricants became available including synthetic hydrocarbons, esters, silicones, and fluorinated materials, including perfluorinated ethers and the fluorosilicones. This broad spectrum of lubricant choices has led to the use of a large number of different lubricants in PREB applications. The U.S. Department of Defense, as a user of many PREB, has seen a significant increase in the logistics effort required to support the procurement and distribution of these items. In addition, as time has passed some of the lubricants used in certain PREB are no longer available. The SRG Series, LSO-26, and Teresso V-78 are examples of such lubricants. This implies that replacement lubricants must be found as, in this era of extending the lifetime of DoD assets, stockpiles of replacement parts become depleted.
One of the primary goals of this study was to take a broad spectrum of the lubricants used in PREB and do a comprehensive series of tests on them in order that their properties could be compared and, if necessary, potential replacement lubricants identified. This study is also meant to be a design guide for choosing lubricants for PREB applications. This guide represents a collective effort of many members of this community who span the spectrum from bearing manufacturers, original equipment manufactures (OEMs), lubr...
SCOPE
1.1 This guide is a tool to aid in the choice of an oil for precision rolling element bearing applications. There are two areas where this guide should have the greatest impact: (1) when a lubricant is being chosen for a new bearing application and (2) when a lubricant for a bearing has to be replaced because the original lubricant specified for the bearing can no longer be obtained. The Report (Section 5) contains a series of tests performed by the same laboratory on a wide variety of oils commonly used in bearing applications to allow comparisons of those properties of the oil that the committee thought to be most important when making a choice of lubricant. This guide contains a listing of the properties of oils by chemical type, that is, ester, silicone, and so forth. This organization is necessary since the operational requirements in a particular bearing application may limit the choice of lubricant to a particular chemical type due to its temperature stability, viscosity index or temperature-vapor pressure characteristics, and so forth. The Report includes the results of tests on the oils included in this study. The Report recommends replacement lubricants for those oils tested that are no longer available. The Report also includes a glossary of terms used in describing/discussing the lubrication of precision and instrument bearings. The Report presents a discussion of elastohydrodynamic lubrication as applied to rolling element bearings.
1.2 Although other compendia of lubricant properties have been published, for example, the Barden Product Standard, Lubricants and the NASA Lubricant Handbook for the Space Industry, none have centered their attention on lubricants commonly used in precision rolling element bearings (PREB). The PREB put a host of unique requirements upon a lubricant. The lubricant must operate at both high and low temperatures. The lubricant must provide lubrication for months, if not years, wit...

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Dec-2001
• ICS: 21.100.01 - Bearings in general
• Technical Committee: F34 - Rolling Element Bearings
• Drafting Committee: F34.02 - Tribology

Relations

• Referred By: ASTM F2489-06(2022) - Standard Guide for Instrument and Precision Bearing Lubricants—Part 2 Greases
• Effective Date: 10-Dec-2001

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
Designation: F2161 – 01
Standard Guide for
1
Instrument and Precision Bearing Lubricants—Part 1 Oils
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F2161; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope the operation of the bearing at very high speeds or low
temperatures, or both. The lubricant must provide boundary
1.1 This guide is a tool to aid in the choice of an oil for
lubrication during low-speed or intermittent operation of the
precision rolling element bearing applications. There are two
bearing.And, in many applications, its vapor pressure must be
areas where this guide should have the greatest impact: (1)
low enough under operating conditions that evaporative losses
when a lubricant is being chosen for a new bearing application
do not lead to lubricant depletion or contamination of nearby
and (2) when a lubricant for a bearing has to be replaced
components.These and other considerations dictated the series
because the original lubricant specified for the bearing can no
of tests that were performed on each lubricant included in this
longer be obtained. The Report (Section 5) contains a series of
study.
testsperformedbythesamelaboratoryonawidevarietyofoils
1.3 Another important consideration was encompassed in
commonly used in bearing applications to allow comparisons
this study.Almost all of the testing was performed by the same
of those properties of the oil that the committee thought to be
laboratory, The Petroleum Products Research Department of
most important when making a choice of lubricant. This guide
the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas, using
containsalistingofthepropertiesofoilsbychemicaltype,that
ASTM procedures. This continuity of testing should form a
is, ester, silicone, and so forth. This organization is necessary
solid basis for comparing the properties of the multitude of
since the operational requirements in a particular bearing
lubricantstestedbyavoidingsomeofthevariabilityintroduced
application may limit the choice of lubricant to a particular
when lubricants are tested by different laboratories using
chemical type due to its temperature stability, viscosity index
different or even the “same” procedures.
ortemperature-vaporpressurecharacteristics,andsoforth.The
1.4 It should be noted that no functional tests (that is,
Report includes the results of tests on the oils included in this
bearingtests)wereperformed.Theresultsofthefour-ballwear
study. The Report recommends replacement lubricants for
test give some comparison, “a figure of merit,” of the lubrica-
those oils tested that are no longer available. The Report also
tion properties of the oils under the condition of this test. But
includes a glossary of terms used in describing/discussing the
experience has shown that testing the lubricant in running
lubrication of precision and instrument bearings. The Report
bearings is the best means of determining lubricant perfor-
presents a discussion of elastohydrodynamic lubrication as
mance.
applied to rolling element bearings.
1.2 Although other compendia of lubricant properties have
2. Referenced Documents
been published, for example, the Barden Product Standard,
4
2 2.1 ASTM Standards:
Lubricants and the NASA Lubricant Handbook for the Space
3
D92 Test Method for Flash and Fire Points by Cleveland
Industry , none have centered their attention on lubricants
Open Cup Tester
commonly used in precision rolling element bearings (PREB).
D97 Test Method for Pour Point of Petroleum Products
The PREB put a host of unique requirements upon a lubricant.
D445 Test Method for Kinematic Viscosity of Transparent
The lubricant must operate at both high and low temperatures.
and Opaque Liquids (and Calculation of Dynamic Viscos-
Thelubricantmustprovidelubricationformonths,ifnotyears,
ity)
without replenishment. The lubricant must be able to support
D974 Test Method for Acid and Base Number by Color-
high loads but cannot be so viscous that it will interfere with
Indicator Titration
D972 Test Method for Evaporation Loss of Lubricating
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F34 on Rolling
Greases and Oils
Element Bearings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F34.02 on
D1331 Test Methods for Surface and Interfacial Tension of
Tribology.
Solutions of Surface-Active Agents
Current edition approved Dec. 10, 2001. Published February 2002. DOI:
10.1520/F2161-01.
2
“Product Standard, Lubricants,” available from The Barden Corp., Danbury,
CT.
4
3 For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
NASALubricant Handboo
...