A lubricant’s primary function is to protect against wear, reduce friction and transfer heat. These properties can be significantly affected by the solubilization of dissolved gases in the lubricant. For example dissolved refrigerants such as hydrocarbon gases (methane, butane, propane) can significantly reduce a lubricants viscosity. This reduction in viscosity can result in increased friction, wear and component failure. Thus an understanding of the effect that these refrigerants have on a lubricant is absolutely essential.  

The degree of gases effect on a lubricant is dependent on the pressure, temperature and the chemical make up of both the lubricant and the gas. This presentation will first review how pressure and temperature effect lubricant/gas solub ...