Mixers and Gear Lubrication

Mixers include a wide variety of speeds, size and types of equipment; consequently, the lubrication of gear drives will be equally varied. Also, both enclosed and open gears will be encountered in such machines. Lacking  recommendations by the equipment manufacturer, one should  rely upon  the fact  that  high speeds in the  gears  demand low  viscosity oils and  low speeds  require high  viscosity lubricants. If the service is severe, use EP oils.

Pour Point Depressants

Certain  polymers when  added to wax containing lubricating oils in  proportions of 0.1 to 5 per  cent, will  alter  the  crystal  structure  of the  wax  and  thus  permit  movement  of the  oil  at a much  lower  temperature  than  before  the addition. Some  agents  used  for  other  purposes, for  example V.I. improvers, may  have a similar  influence on  pour  points.

Most  industrial  gear  oils do not  require  this  type  of  additive but  pour  depressants are  often  included in  automotive  gear  lubricants. The agents  normally  used  include  “Acryloids”  which  are  methacrylate  polymers,  and  “Paraflow”  or “ Santopour”  which  are  wax condensation  products with either  naphthalene or  phenol.