Water as a main component of automotive lubricants sounds simplistic. But if one talks to the executives of Klueber Lubrication, one realises that ‘the tribology experts at Klueber have developed homogenous lubricants with functional water content’ using advanced yet sustainable technology for the future.
Dr. Stefan Seemeyer, Head – Research & Development, Klueber Lubrication explained: “Water’s limitation, in terms of freezing and evaporation, or oxidation and microbiological growth, can be converted to benefits using additives and technical solutions. With this, we can successfully reduce the friction involved and introduce the properties of ‘superlubricity’”.
Mr. Frank Werner, Head – Business Unit Automotive Industry, Klueber Lubrication expanded further: “One of our major strategies is sustainability and water-based lube has a definite sustainability aspect. Under certain conditions, these lubes offer ‘superlubricity’ which means there is extremely low friction between steel surfaces. ‘Superlubricity’ makes the drive train more efficient, offers more range and less power consumption. This becomes even more interesting for e-mobility and electric vehicles if they have gear boxes and most of them do.”
Water- based lubricants have the advantage of better cooling properties and save energy because they reduce friction. Since Klueber has always been focused on sustainable solutions, the executives reiterate that ‘compared to the present-day, oil-based lubricants, water offers many other important functional advantages which are globally available, non-toxic and non- flammable’.
Klueber’s hydro lubricants are a possible answer to the rising demand in innovative lubrication concepts based entirely on renewable raw materials.
The hydro lubricants of Klueber are yet to make an aggressive entry into India but the world over, it is being seen as a product that has the potential to revolutionise the future of speciality lubricants.
The world over, Klueber Lubrication is working on applications like gear units, bearings, chains and other such components. The hydro lubrication technology is being used in their Klueberplus C2 series, currently, which is mainly meant for use in conveyor belts, water and water-soluble oils which form homogenous solutions that lead to improved metering of the lubricant and thus reducing the incidence of malfunctions in the production operation.