Environmental Protection Meets Operating Efficiency
The most common applications calling for zinc-free lubricants are in mobile equipment operating over or near bodies of water, or in environmentally sensitive areas. At least two leading manufacturers of excavators specify zinc-free for hydraulic components to avoid the risk of water or soil contamination where the equipment is likely to operate. Marine hydraulic applications also call for oils that are biodegradable and low in toxicity due to the risk of leakage or spillage into water. While the additive package is only one factor in biodegradability, high levels of zinc in the formulation will negate these benefits.
The most common applications calling for zinc-free lubricants are in mobile equipment operating over or near bodies of water, or in environmentally sensitive areas. At least two leading manufacturers of excavators specify zinc-free for hydraulic components to avoid the risk of water or soil contamination where the equipment is likely to operate. Marine hydraulic applications also call for oils that are biodegradable and low in toxicity due to the risk of leakage or spillage into water. While the additive package is only one factor in biodegradability, high levels of zinc in the formulation will negate these benefits.
Another application where we are seeing operators turning to zinc-free oils is in plastic injection molding hydraulic systems. In large-scale plastics operations, injection molders tend to run for long hours under intense heat and pressure, which can cause oil to degrade and form varnish – a leading cause of hydraulic equipment damage and downtime. Zinc-free lubricants have shown to provide oxidation stability and mitigate varnish buildup.
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