ASTM F2489-06(2022)
(Guide)Standard Guide for Instrument and Precision Bearing Lubricants—Part 2 Greases
Standard Guide for Instrument and Precision Bearing Lubricants—Part 2 Greases
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 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 lubricating greases for precision rolling element bearings (PREB). The PREB are, for the purposes of this guide, meant to include bearings of Annular Bearing Engineer's Committee (ABEC) 5 quality and above. This guide limits its scope to lubricating greases used in PREB.
4.2 The number of lubricating 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 base oils became available. They included synthetic hydrocarbons, esters, silicones, multiply alkylated cyclopentanes (MAC) 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 greases used in certain PREB are no longer available or require improved performances due to advanced bearing technology/requirements. This implies that replacement lubricating greases must be found, especially in this era of extending the lifetime of DoD assets, with the consequent and unprojected demand for sources of replacement parts.
4.3 One of the primary goals of this study was to take a broad spectrum of the lubricating greases 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 greases be identified. This study is also meant to be a design guide for choosing lubricating greases for future PREB applications. This guide represents a collective effort of many members of this co...
SCOPE
1.1 This guide is a tool to aid in the choice of lubricating grease for precision rolling element bearing applications. The recommendations in this guide are not intended for general purpose bearing applications There are two areas where this guide should have the greatest impact: (1) when lubricating grease is being chosen for a new bearing application and (2) when grease for a bearing has to be replaced because the original grease specified for the bearing can no longer be obtained. The Report (see Section 5) contains a series of tests on a wide variety of greases commonly used in bearing applications to allow comparisons of those properties of the grease that the committee thought to be most important when making a choice of lubricating grease. Each test was performed by the same laboratory. This guide contains a listing of the properties of greases by base oil type, that is, ester, perfluoropolyether (PFPE), polyalphaolefin (PAO), and so forth. This organization is necessary since the operational requirements in a particular bearing application may limit the choice of grease to a particular base oil type and thickener due to its temperature stability, viscosity index or temperature-vapor pressure characteristics, etc. The guide provides data to assist the user in selecting replacement greases for those greases tested that are no longer available. The guide also includes a glossary of terms used in describing/discussing the lubrication of precision and instrument bearings.
1.2 The lubricating greases presented in this guide are commonly used in precision rolling element bearings (PREB). These greases were selected for the testing based on the grease survey obtained from DoD, OEM and grease manufactures and evaluated according to the test protocol that was designed by Subcommittee F34 on Tribology. This test protocol covers the essential requirements identified for precision bearing greases. The performance requirem...
General Information
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Standards Content (Sample)
This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: F2489 − 06 (Reapproved 2022)
Standard Guide for
Instrument and Precision Bearing Lubricants—Part 2
1
Greases
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F2489; 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 performance requirements of these greases are very
unique. They are dictated by the performance expectations of
1.1 This guide is a tool to aid in the choice of lubricating
precision bearings including high speed, low noise, extended
grease for precision rolling element bearing applications. The
life, and no contamination of surrounding components by the
recommendations in this guide are not intended for general
bearing’s lubricant system. To increase the reliability of test
purpose bearing applications There are two areas where this
data, all tests were performed by a DoD laboratory and three
guide should have the greatest impact: (1) when lubricating
independent testing laboratories. There were no grease manu-
grease is being chosen for a new bearing application and (2)
facturer’s data imported except for base oil viscosity. Most of
when grease for a bearing has to be replaced because the
tests were performed by U.S. Army Tank–Automotive
original grease specified for the bearing can no longer be
Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC)
obtained. The Report (see Section 5) contains a series of tests
and three independent laboratories, and the results were moni-
on a wide variety of greases commonly used in bearing
tored by the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL). This continu-
applications to allow comparisons of those properties of the
ity of testing should form a solid basis for comparing the
grease that the committee thought to be most important when
properties of the multitude of lubricating greases tested by
makingachoiceoflubricatinggrease.Eachtestwasperformed
avoiding some of the variability introduced when greases are
by the same laboratory. This guide contains a listing of the
tested by different laboratories using different or even the
properties of greases by base oil type, that is, ester, perfluo-
“same” procedures. Additional test data will be considered for
ropolyether (PFPE), polyalphaolefin (PAO), and so forth. This
inclusion, provided the defined protocol is followed and the
organization is necessary since the operational requirements in
tests are performed by independent laboratories.
a particular bearing application may limit the choice of grease
toaparticularbaseoiltypeandthickenerduetoitstemperature 1.3 This study was a part of DoD Aging Aircraft Replace-
stability, viscosity index or temperature-vapor pressure ment Program and supported by Defense Logistic Agent
2
characteristics,etc.Theguideprovidesdatatoassisttheuserin (DLA) and Defense Supply Center Richmond (DSCR).
selecting replacement greases for those greases tested that are
1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
nolongeravailable.Theguidealsoincludesaglossaryofterms
as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
used in describing/discussing the lubrication of precision and
standard.
instrument bearings.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
1.2 The lubricating greases presented in this guide are
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
commonly used in precision rolling element bearings (PREB).
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
These greases were selected for the testing based on the grease
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
surveyobtainedfromDoD,OEMandgreasemanufacturesand
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
evaluated according to the test protocol that was designed by
1.6 This international standard was developed in accor-
Subcommittee F34 on Tribology. This test protocol covers the
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
essential requirements identified for precision bearing greases.
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F34 on Rolling
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Element Bearings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F34.02 on
Tribology.
2
Current edition approved Jan. 1, 2022. Published August 2022. Originally Rhee,In-Sik,“Preci
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