Modern lubrication practices for improved outdoor electrical equipment reliability

In his book, Friction and Wear of
Materials, Ernest Rabinowicz
estimated that roughly 70% of
reduction in equipment usefulness
over time results from machine surface
degradation caused by wear or
corrosion. Industry experts estimate
that about half of all wear in industrial
equipment is in some way related to
lubrication.
Engineering and materials
technology continues to evolve in a
well-understood way. Lubricant
technology has itself evolved but in
far less understood terms. Modern
lubricant technology has developed to
allow for better performance in today's
extremely demanding applications
where operating speeds, temperatures
and loads are increasing and longer
maintenance intervals are becoming
more common. With proper understanding
of the key features and
benefits of modern lubricants and how
to apply them to best realize those
benefits, it is possible to improve
equipment reliability and maximize
total cost of ownership of lubricants
and equipment.
With regard to high voltage switchgear
and circuit breakers, modern
engineered lubricants have been
demonstrated to provide long service
life and represent one possible
opportunity to increase reliable
equipment operation due to their ability
to outperform conventional lubricants
and excel at temperature extremes,
resist drying out and help prevent
wear and corrosion that may lead to
equipment seizure.