Hot lubricant is a type of lubricant designed to maintain its properties and effectively reduce friction and wear between moving surfaces even at elevated temperatures.
This means it can function as a friction reducer and protect against wear and tear under demanding conditions where conventional lubricants might degrade or fail. Hot lubricants can come in various forms, including:
- Gases: Certain gases can act as lubricants at high temperatures.
- Liquids: Specialized liquid lubricants are formulated to withstand high temperatures.
- Solids: Solid lubricants, like graphite or molybdenum disulfide, are often used where liquids are unsuitable due to extreme heat.
The key characteristic of a hot lubricant is its ability to maintain its lubricity—its ability to reduce friction—at high temperatures. It functions as a high-temperature lubricity agent. This is crucial in applications where friction and wear can lead to significant performance losses, component failure, or safety hazards.
