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Lubricants for rolling bearings / rolling bearing grease

Lubricants for rolling bearings are substances that are used to reduce friction and wear between the rolling and sliding components of a rolling bearing. They play a decisive role in the functionality, efficiency and service life of rolling bearings. Lubricants can be in the form of greases, oils or dry films. 30-40% of all bearing failures are caused by inadequate lubrication, also known as insufficient lubrication.

Functions of lubricants in rolling bearings

  • Friction reduction: Reduces the friction between the rolling elements (e.g. balls or rollers) and the raceways.
  • Wear protection: Forms a protective layer to minimize surface abrasion and damage.
  • Heat dissipation: Dissipates heat generated by friction (especially with oil lubrication).
  • Sealing: Protects against the ingress of dust, dirt and moisture.
  • Vibration damping: Reduces vibrations and operating noise.

Types of lubricants

  • Greases: Consist of a base oil, a thickener (e.g. lithium soap) and additives. In the case of base oils, a distinction is often made between greases with a mineral oil and a synthetic oil
  • Advantages: Good adhesion, easy application, low maintenance.
  • Application: For normal to low speeds, high load capacity, protection against moisture.
  • Oils: Are applied directly to the bearing components.
  • Advantages: Good heat dissipation, suitable for high speeds.
  • Application: e.g. in gearboxes where the bearings run in oil.
  • Dry lubricants:
  • Contain solids such as graphite or molybdenum disulphide (MoS₂).
  • Advantages: No evaporation or ageing, resistant to extreme temperatures.
  • Use: e.g. in ovens,

Selection of a lubricant

The selection of the right lubricant depends on various factors:

  • Operating temperature: Greases and oils have different temperature ranges.
  • Load and speed: Lubricants must meet the requirements of the operating profile.
  • Ambient conditions: Moisture, dust or chemical substances require special protection mechanisms.
  • Service life: Some lubricants offer extended service life with low maintenance.

Maintenance and relubrication

  • Relubrication is necessary if the lubricant loses its properties due to ageing, contamination or evaporation.
  • For maintenance-free bearings, special long-life greases are often used to ensure permanent lubrication.
  • Caution Lubricants must not simply be mixed, ask the bearing manufacturer or the grease manufacturer whether the greases can be mixed.

Lubricants are essential to ensure the optimum performance and longevity of rolling bearings. Proper lubrication can minimize operational failures and reduce total cost of ownership.

Here is a selection of lubricants that NSK recommends:

Grease types /NSK code Thickener Base oil Dropping point (°C) Consistency Operating temperature range (1) (°C) For high loads Application limit compared to the listed limit speeds(2) (%) Kinematic viscosity (mm2/s)
40° 100°
ADLEX/U47 Lithium Mineral oil 198 300 0~+110 recommended 70 197 15
APOLLOIL AUTOLEX A/ALA Lithium Mineral oil 198 280 -10~+110 suitable 60 185 15
Arapen RB 300/R30 Lithium/calcium Mineral oil 177 294 -10~+ 80 suitable 70 99 10
EA2 Grease/EA2 Urea Poly-α-olefin oil ≥ 260 243 -40~+150 suitable 100 47 7
EA3 Grease/EA3 Urea Poly-α-olefin oil ≥ 260 230 -40~+150 suitable 100 47 8
EA5 Grease/EA5 Urea Poly-α-olefin oil ≥ 260 251 -40~+160 recommended 60 239 26
EA7 Grease/EA7 Urea Poly-α-olefin oil ≥ 260 243 -40~+160 suitable 100 46 7
ENC Grease/ENC Urea Polyol ester oil + mineral oil ≥ 260 262 -40~+160 suitable 70 51 7
ENS Grease/ENS Urea Polyol ester oil ≥ 260 264 -40~+160 suitable 100 33 5
ECZ Grease/ECZ Lithium + carbon black Poly-α-olefin oil ≥ 260 243 -10~+120 suitable 100 30 5
ISOFLEX NBU 15/NB5 Barium complex Diester oil + mineral oil ≥ 260 280 -30~+120 not suitable 100 20 4
ISOFLEX SUPER LDS 18/D8S Lithium Diester oil 195 280 -50~+110 not suitable 100 15 3
ISOFLEX TOPAS NB52/TN5 Barium complex Poly-α-olefin oil ≥ 260 280 -40~+130 not suitable 90 30 5
Aero Shell Grease 7/AG7 Microgel Diester oil ≥ 260 288 -55~+100 not suitable 100 10 3
Dow Corning® SH 33 L Grease/D3L Lithium Silicone oil 210 310 -60~+120 not suitable 60 75 25
Dow Corning® SH 44 M Grease/DM4 Lithium Silicone oil 210 260 -30~+130 not suitable 60 80 20
NS HI-Lube/NS7 Lithium Polyol ester oil + diester oil 192 250 -40~+130 suitable 100 26 5
NSA Grease/NSA Lithium Poly-α-olefin oil + ester oil 201 311 -40~+130 suitable 70 115 15
NSC Grease/NSC Lithium Alkyl diphenyl ether oil + polyol ester oil 192 235 -30~+140 suitable 70 53 8
NSK Clean Grease LG2/LG2 Lithium Poly-α-olefin oil + mineral oil 201 199 -40~+130 not suitable 100 32 5
EMALUBE 8030/E80 Urea Mineral oil ≥ 260 280 0~+130 recommended 60 415 31
MA8 Grease/MA8 Urea Alkyl diphenyl ether oil + poly-a-olefin oil ≥ 260 283 -30~+160 suitable 70 76 11
KRYTOX GPL-524/K24 PTFE Perfluoropolyether oil ≥ 260 265 0~+200 suitable 70 90 10
KP1/KP1 PTFE Perfluoropolyether oil ≥ 260 280 -30~+200 suitable 60 420 36
Cosmo Wide Grease WR No.3/WR3 Sodium terephthalate Polyol ester oil + mineral oil ≥ 230 227 -40~+130 not suitable 100 29
G-40M/G4M Lithium Silicone oil 223 252 -30~+130 not suitable 60 220 42
Shell Alvania EP 2/AP2 Lithium Mineral oil 187 276 0~+ 80 recommended 60 220 15
Shell Alvania S1/AS1 Lithium Mineral oil 182 323 -10~+110 suitable 70 130 12
Shell Alvania S2/AS2 Lithium Mineral oil 185 275 -10~+110 suitable 70 130 12
Shell Alvania S3/AS3 Lithium Mineral oil 185 242 -10~+110 suitable 70 130 12
Shell Cassida RLS 2/RLS Aluminum complex Poly-α-olefin oil ≥ 260 280 0~+120 suitable 70 150 18
SHELL SUNLIGHT 2/SL2 Lithium Mineral oil 200 274 -10~+110 suitable 70 182 15
WPH/WPH Urea Poly-α-olefin oil 259 240 -40~+150 suitable 70 95 14
Demnum TM Grease L-200/DL2 PTFE Perfluoropolyether oil ≥ 260 280 -30~+200 suitable 60 200 35
NIGACE WR-S/WRS Urea Mixed oil ≥ 260 230 -30~+150 not suitable 70 56 11
NIGLUB RSH/RSH Sodium complex Polyalkylene glycol oil ≥ 260 270 -20~+120 suitable 60 340 51
PYRONOC UNIVERSAL N6B/PN6 Urea Mineral oil 238 290 0~+130 suitable 70 108
PALMAX RBG/PMK Lithium complex Mineral oil 216 300 -10~+130 recommended 70 177 17
Beacon 325/B3N Lithium Diester oil 190 274 -50~+100 not suitable 100 11 3
MULTEMP PS No.2/PS2 Lithium Mineral oil + diester oil 190 275 -50~+110 not suitable 100 15 4
MOLYKOTE FS-3451/FS3 PTFE Fluorosilicone oil ≥ 260 285 0~+180 suitable 70 580 74
UME/UME Urea Mineral oil ≥ 260 268 -10~+130 suitable 70 75 9
UMM Fat 2/UMM Urea Mineral oil ≥ 260 267 -10~+130 suitable 70 74 9
RAREMAX AF-1/RA1 Urea Mineral oil ≥ 260 300 -10~+130 suitable 70 74 9

Download table: Bearing_assembly_maintenance_S_23

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