What are the Different Types of Lubricants?
There are basically two types of lubricants, petroleum-based and synthetic. Each of these lubricants is suited for particular purposes and conditions. Each is also subject to varying levels of oxidation and degradation and is compatible with only certain types of machinery components, demands, and environments. Everyone who owns an automobile knows that the engine oil has to be changed regularly to provide longer engine life. The motor oil in an automobile’s engine is commonly a petroleum-based lubricant. Though this type of lubricant contains the same hydrocarbon base as the gasoline used to power the automobile, the formulations are quite different. The hydrocarbon- or petroleum-based lubricating motor oil is designed to protect the various moving parts of the engine, while gasoline, which is also a petroleum product, is formulated to produce the explosive heat needed to power the engine. Lubricants may be liquid, such as motor oil and hydraulic oil; they may be semi-solid or solid,
Usually, water-based lubricants are the most popular type of personal lubricant because they are easy to use and highly effective at easing otherwise painful sexual activities. Additionally, these lubricants tend to be less irritating than other types and are much easier to wash off the body afterwards. When water-based lubricants first became available for personal use, they were marketed as cellulose solutions. A lubricant such as Moist Personal Lube works well, and additional water can always be added if a product dries out too quickly. The added dose of water is typically enough to reactivate the lubricant. The only downside to water-based lubricants are that they cannot be used during sexual activities that take place in water, because the product can break down or dissolve which renders the lubricant ineffective. In these instances, you may want to use an oil-based or “specialty” lubricant, although water-based lubes are preferred over any other. What Can I Use Lubricant For? Whi