Whenever two moving, solid surfaces contact each other, there is friction which creates heat and leads to destructive wear. Lubrication is the process of introducing a lubricant substance between the surfaces in order to reduce that friction and wear. A lubricant can be a solid such as molybdenum disulfide or Teflon; a semi-solid, such as grease; a liquid, such as oil; or even a gas such as air. This module will focus primarily on the industrial uses of liquid oils and grease as lubricants.
• Describe the purpose of lubricants
• Identify the benefits of lubricants
• Describe the importance of proper lubrication
• Describe the key characteristics or properties of lubricants
• Describe the composition of lubricant types
• Differentiate between liquid lubricants and greases
• Describe typical factors considered when selecting a lubricant
• Describe typical methods and systems for applying or using lubricants
• Identify safety hazards and safe work practices associated with lubricants
• Describe environmental hazards associated with lubricants