Aerospace Maintenance Lubricants

The field of aerospace demands perfection. As safety is paramount, performance and component quality must always be at its utmost, but today, efficiency must be balanced with sustainability. Furthermore, in the age of global competition, cost is always an important factor to consider. Fortunately, there no longer must be any trade-off when it comes to quality over cost for aerospace maintenance lubricants.

Lubricants designed for tending to Aerospace equipment can reduce maintenance time and repair processes via the effective elimination of the re-lubrication process and optimising the active lifespan of the aircraft. From reducing the need for replacement parts and spare components to mitigating aircraft downtime, leading aerospace lubricants allow maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) teams to streamline and enhance processes in every stage of an aircraft’s life cycle.

While historically, the aerospace industry has drawn upon solid lubricants for maintaining aerospace machinery, the advent of modernisation, technology and globalisation have brought innovative new solutions to the field. As a result, all-new formulations of lubricants delivering ever higher performance levels are being developed to become widely used in aerospace applications all over the world.

What are aerospace maintenance lubricants?

Today, engineers at leading lubrication manufacturers have created a full range of solutions and product support services which are designed to meet the first fill and maintenance demands of the aerospace industry.

All products created are designed to deliver high performance to the aerospace, original equipment manufacturers (OEM) and aerospace maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO) sectors. World-class manufacturers have created specific product ranges which cover a diverse selection of applications to satisfy every requirement.

Typical examples of aerospace maintenance lubricants include corrosion preventives, hydraulic fluids, greases, calibration fluids and turbine oils.

Maintenance solutions are designed with an understanding that lubricating landing gear systems, airframe assemblies, avionics, propulsion systems and shock struts, demands total dependability and rigorous safety. With years of experience, lubrication engineers have extensive knowledge and application experience working with cabin superchargers, jet engines and jet turbines. From specialist jet aircraft lubricants to low volatility products for deep space missions which consider issues such as outgassing, a diverse range of maintenance lubricants are available.

What are the advantages of using aerospace maintenance lubricants?

With systems and components often working under severe pressures and temperatures and in extreme operating conditions and environments, aerospace equipment needs a continuous and strict maintenance regimen.

Built-for-purpose lubricants can ensure that machinery can deliver the highest levels of performance promoting safety and protecting aircrafts and their internal components against wear and damage from extreme operating temperatures. Maintenance lubricants can also defend machinery against corrosive forces like oxidisation, but also keep equipment clean and free of varnish and sludge formation, which can build up when fuel is burned.

Cutting-edge lubricants for maintenance in aerospace applications are carefully formulated with advanced additive packages, enhancing anti-wear, anti-corrosion and extreme pressure (EP) and heat properties. Lubricants can keep mechanical systems running for extended periods of time with longer drain intervals, but also help to minimise downtime by keeping equipment in peak condition and avoiding downtime for replacing or repairing parts that have become damaged.

Leading aerospace maintenance lubricants are also designed to keep operators compliant with governmental and environmental regulations. Products are specifically engineered to meet all criteria required, providing companies in the aerospace industry with premier levels of peace of mind.

Perfluoropolyether (PFPE) and multiply alkylated cyclopentane (MAC) lubricants

Both MAC and PFPE lubricants are products recommended for use in vacuum environments, due to their low outgassing and low vapour pressures. PFPE lubricants can provide enhanced high temperature performance of up to 250 °C, in comparison to MAC lubricants which can handle temperatures of up to 150 °C. Furthermore, PFPE lubricants can provide inherent chemical inertness. This translates to unparalleled resistance to hydrolytic degradation and oxidation as well as outstanding elastomer compatibility. However, because of the unique base oil chemistry they use and specially formulated additive packs, MAC lubricants can offer superior protection against wear and improved bearing life performance. As a rule, both PFPE and MAC and products come ultra-filtered.

Does your operation require dependable aerospace maintenance lubricants?

It is understood that lubricants suited to meet the demands of a specialised industry like aerospace cannot be sourced from a standard lubrication supplier and are not always easy to track down. At TrAchem, we are far more than a lubricant supplier and provide an expert procurement service to our clients, sourcing specialist products for them at competitive prices.

We are committed to delivering the right product on time for the best price possible, and if we don’t currently list a lubricant you seek, we will do our best to find it for your operation. A leader in our field, we can access more leading brands and products than any other operator in the sector. For a consultation on the aerospace maintenance lubricants you seek, reach out to our team today.