Wire ropes are an essential piece of equipment for a wide variety of industries such as, marine, gas, oil, shipping and so forth. From mining to construction, wire ropes are often used for lifting or pulling heavy loads while offering flexibility and little to no noise impact.
There are many ways to extend the life of wire rope – from proper storage, correct handling techniques and using high-quality lubricant, it’s important to keep your ropes in top tier condition.
In this blog post, we’ll explore the safety benefits of lubricating wire ropes.
- Wire rope lubricant can reduce the chances of wire rope failure
Wire rope is a critical component in many industrial and construction applications. It needs to be properly lubricated to protect its lifespan and to ensure that it can continue to do the job safely and effectively. The correct amount and application of lubricant prevents metal strands from making contact with each other and wearing down or damaging the ropes core insulation material.
Lubricant helps to keep the wire rope running smoothly and prevents unnecessary wear and tear.
There are many different types of wire rope lubricants available and to select the correct one for your specific style of rope there are several factors taken into account before this is done. the wire from excess moisture and corrosion, which leads into our next key point.
- Wire rope lubricant reduces corrosion and mechanical wear on the wire ropes
Wire ropes are responsible for carrying extremely heavy and varying loads of weight while being exposed to natural elements such as sand, gravel, water and dirt. These tiny particles of sediment or moisture can aggravate the fine wiring of the rope by adding more friction to high-contact points between the rope and its corresponding pulley system. Additionally, the extra debris built up in the spiral strands of wire, leads to general corrosion over time.
The durability of your ropes will be extended when you reduce the amount of corrosive residue that builds up over the wire’s life span. When you apply proper lubrication to your ropes, it prevents alkaline water, humidity, salt, and other foreign substances from nesting in your wires and breaking them down from the inside out. Although wire ropes are not capable of lasting forever, their endurance lasts for years to come when they are well taken care of and lubricated.
- Wire rope lubricant prolongs the life of the rope by reducing friction
Like any other piece of heavy-duty equipment, wire ropes accumulate general wear and tear over time. When cables are repeatedly twisted, tensed, and bent over time, they absorb the stress of these repeated motions. If the wire goes without proper lubrication, these high-friction pressure points will wear down much quicker than the rest of the core. When you apply high-quality lubrication to your wire, you extend the working lifetime of these worn-down strands.
However, it is important to apply the right amount and type of lubricant to your wire ropes. The best way to achieve optimal results when applying lubricant is to use a wire rope lubricator. An effective lubricator tool prevents grease from leaking off the rope and consequently, contaminating the surrounding environment. It also saves time wasted on trying to do this complicated application process by hand and it saves money on the wasted grease from user error.
Wire Rope Lubrication: Protect Your Investment and Extend Its Lifespan
Wire rope lubricant is an inexpensive and easy to use way to protect your wire ropes assets.
Sources:
https://www.machinerylubrication.com/Read/372/wire-rope-lubrication
https://www.matec-conferences.org/articles/matecconf/pdf/2018/01/matecconf_icmae2017_03001.pdf
