Plastic Lubricants from BECHEM

Squeak. Squeak. These are not mere sounds. They are questions about the lubricant.

Auto manufacturers have effectively been able to address the issues of design, energy efficiency, user comfort, aesthetic appeal, engineering flexibility and durability in interior cabins of the car by use of composite plastics. However, these composite plastics developed and manufactured by advanced technologies are no exception to the laws of friction. Frictional dynamics are unique and complex and need to be resolved by speciality lubricants. In automotive interiors, composite plastic materials are a combination of definite polymer matrix with special additives and reinforcements like glass fibers or plastic material in combination with PC + ABS etc. These composites are used in various cabin components such as HVAC unit, seat recliner and adjustment mechanism, gear shift mechanism, cup, ashtray holder, door handle mechanism etc.

Temperature Up, Performance Down

The demand on the lubricant is extraordinary in automobile interiors. Most of the components need to function in all extreme environmental conditions and until the lifetime of the car. Temperature build up due to friction is an undesired phenomenon. At high temperatures, plastic composites tend to diffuse and lose their inherent characteristics by borrowing or combining with ingredients of contacting surface or lubricating medium. Migration of the lubricant molecules inside the plastic composite result in swelling and softening of the plastic material. Alternatively, the polymer ingredients can diffuse into the lubricant structure, resulting in shrinkage and hardening of the polymer. Hence material compatibility of plastic parts lubrication is of paramount importance.

Ease of Operation

Stick slip is a special lubrication challenge in plastic parts where the force required to slide or roll plastic parts is not uniform. In the absence of a right lubricant this would result in an unpleasant feel of operation for the car user.

Noise Dampening

Undesirable squeaks and rattles caused by vibration in operational conditions is a common problem faced by auto and component manufacturers. The degree of noise dampening is influenced by selecting a lubricant that combines the appropriate base oil viscosity and thickener system to create the desired shear resistance, reduce stick slip and the resulting noise.

Ideal Lubricant Composition

Lubricants used in the interior cabin need to work under considerable loads within a temperature range of 90 C. The grease has to be very soft and buttery in composition to ensure smooth operation. It should also be stable and not have excessive oil separation with no unpleasant odour. Oil bleeding is particularly tricky since it may cause spillage onto the driver’s hands or dress or even the expensive seat fabric.

BECHEM’s Lubricants

BECHEM’s synthetic PAO and Lithium thickened greases with PTFE additives for plastic parts are soft, buttery and odourless and also provide excellent ant-wear and anti-stick slip properties. With low oil separation even at high temperatures and noise dampening properties, BECHEM lubricants are compatible with all kinds of composite plastics and provide outstanding performance for period often exceeding the life time of the component.

Material Compatibility

To avoid migration of molecules between the contacting surface and the lubricant BECHEM’s speciality grease with synthetic base oils possess narrow molecular weight distribution. This ensures low interaction with polymers. High base oil viscosity would ensure lower diffusion rates and hence better compatibility.

BECHEM’s state of the art R&D lab equipped with the latest testing installations employs both sophisticated in-house and internationally established test procedures to find the best compatible lubricant. Behavior of the lubricant and plastic composite is observed for swelling, tensile strength, elongation and compression strain at stimulated test conditions that imitate the harshest of driving conditions.

Working closely with top auto and manufacturers worldwide, BECHEM has developed intelligent tailor made lubricants that suit their applications seamlessly.