Lubrication
Three challenges for the container glass industry Jonathan Cruz* explains common problems for IS machine lubrication and how these can be overcome.
G
lass containers are one of the most common types of packaging in the beverage industry, where we can have beverages such as beer, carbonated beverages, liquors and household. For the manufacture of bottles, the blow-blowing technique is mainly used, where the operation of the independent section machines constitutes the pillar and the key to achieving the company’s production levels. Melting furnaces, which handle more than 100 tonnes of glass per day and produce up to 300 containers per minute, feed them.
Resistance to high temperatures
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The process demands high temperature ranges around 220°C where the mineral base oils cannot reach a lifetime that favours the lubrication of the most remote points. Synthetic ester-based oils are hightemperature oils with superior thermal resistance than conventional ones. To analyse thermal stability, the following tests were performed: � Dish test (open and capped); � TGA (Thermogravimetry analysis with dynamic temperature sequence).
� Thermal stability tests can help manufacturers reduce costs.
With these tests, evaporation and ageing behaviour as well as oxidation resistance can be analysed. TGA results show that the evaporation loss of these Kluber oils at operating temperatures is very low, up to 25% lower, which means that the oil will retain its lubricity longer in the mechanisms.
Minimal carbon residues formation The amount of carbon residues due to temperature effects on the oils increases the preventive stoppages for maintenance and cleaning of the machine. In addition, the machine is exposed to sudden production stoppages associated
� Percentage of carbon residue with various base oils.
with the clogging of the lubrication veins. The amount of carbon residues left by a mineral oil is 20 times greater compared to a synthetic oil. To evaluate the high temperature oils,
the Eisenmann test (complete evaporation according to Eisenmann) and the Panel Cooking test were performed. In addition to the Eisenmann test, also the Panel Cooking test shows the residue
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