Specialty fluids and lubricants include specialized, proprietary, or unlisted lubricants or fluids. They are based upon non-standard chemistries (i.e., PPE, PAO, and halide) or contain a conventional fluid base that has been formulated or compounded with unique additives (e.g., nanoparticles) to impart fluid properties such as radiation resistance, oxidation resistance, a high refractive index, or high tackiness.

Applications

Specialty fluids and lubricants are also engineered for very specific applications with extreme conditions such as ultrahigh temperature, high pressure, and ultrahigh vacuum (UHV). Often, products such as Mil-Spec fluids are used in aerospace and military applications.

Additional applications include:

• Well drilling
• Steel quenching
• Metal heat treating
• Extraction
• Dampening
• Expansion
• System cleaning
• Grinding
• Lapping
• Carbide grinding
• Aerosols
• Cleaning products
• Traction products

Types

There are many different types of specialty fluids and lubricants. Examples include:

• Engineered fluids and optical fluids
• Electronic fluids and electric fluids
• Ferrofluids
• Ferromagnetic liquids
• Magnetofluids
• Magnetic fluids
• Magnetorheological fluids (MR fluids
• Eialectic, conductive, and supercritical fluids
• Viscoelastic fluids
• Thixotropic fluids
• High-temperature fluids
• Fireproof fluids
• Heat-resistant fluids
• Quenchants and quenching brines
• Cesium formate
• Potassium formate
• Formate brine
• High-pressure high-temperature fluids (HPHT fluids)
• Drilling fluids
• Completion fluids
• Intervention fluids
• Flushing oils.
• High-pressure coolants
• High-volume coolants
• Surface active coolants
• Specialty misting fluids
• Lapping oils
• Honing oils
• Sharpening oils
• Carrier fluids
• Drying fluids
• Dry cleaning fluids
• Tacky adhesive fluids
• Specialty traction fluids

Some specialty fluids and lubricants use nanotechnology or nanoscale particles to further enhance specific properties such as:

• Electrical conductivity
• Ferromagentism
• Low boiling point
• High boiling point
• High voltage dielectric (HV dielectric)
• Water displacement
• Moisture or steam resistance

Food-grade, biodegradable, natural or bio-based, synthetic and petroleum products are also available.

Standards

A-A-711 - Dry cleaning solvent

GME B 440 0035 - Lapping oil

SAE AMS3025 - This specification covers two types of polyalkylene glycol in the form of a liquid.

References

Image credits:

Advanced Abrasives Corp.