Ceramic lubricants

Where a ceramic plant uses oil and grease

• Ball mills for body and glaze grinding
• Hydraulic presses that form the tile
• Spray dryers and their gearboxes
• Roller kiln and kiln car chain drives
• Conveyors, glazing lines and polishing lines
• Air compressors that run the plant

Hydraulic oil for tile presses

Tile presses work at very high pressure and repeat the same cycle many times an hour. A good hydraulic oil protects the pump and valves from wear, keeps its thickness (viscosity) when hot, and releases air and water quickly. Most presses use an anti-wear (AW) mineral oil in ISO VG 46 or VG 68, but the grade your press maker specifies is the one to follow.

Keep the oil clean. Dust, water and old oil are the common causes of press trouble, so change filters on schedule and sample the oil from time to time.

Gear oil for ball mills and conveyors

Ball mill gearboxes carry heavy loads at low speed. They usually call for an extreme-pressure (EP) gear oil in a high viscosity grade, often ISO VG 320 or VG 460. Smaller conveyor and dryer gearboxes often use a lighter grade. Always check the nameplate or manual before you choose, and do not mix different oils in one gearbox.

High-temperature chain oil and grease for kilns

The drives and bearings around a roller kiln see radiated heat and dust. Ordinary grease softens and runs out. For these points, plants use high-temperature, non-melt greases and heat-resistant chain lubricants, and they re-lubricate on a regular, short cycle.

Dust, water and contamination

Ceramic dust is hard and abrasive. It gets into bearings and oil tanks if seals and breathers are worn. Greases in dusty areas should be stable at NLGI 2 or 3 and resist water wash-out. Clean breathers, good seals and tidy storage of oil drums matter as much as the oil itself.

How to choose the right grade

• Start with the machine maker's manual or nameplate.
• Note the operating temperature and load.
• Match the viscosity grade and the performance level (AW for hydraulics, EP for gears).
• Ask for a sample and test it on one machine first.
• Set an oil-change and re-greasing plan, and keep to it.