An extremely thin (less than .001inch), high strength, synthetic lubricating film that
provides excellent anti-wear and extreme pressure characteristics to help stop fretting
and wear, and is resistant to dirt pickup and water wash-off.
Penetrates to the rope's core. Virtually colorless, allowing for easy inspection. Compatible
with natural fiber, polyethylene, and polypropylene cores, and petroleum based products.
Approved for use as a lubricant and preservative on post tension tendons in
construction of nuclear power plants.
Available in 14 ounce non-aerosol spray cans, 1 and 5 gallon containers, and 55 gallon
drums.
PRODUCT REPORT
By Research and Development
The lubricant in wire rope performs a dual function. One function is the lubrication of strands; the
other is to inhibit corrosion which accelerates strand friction and decomposition.
Traditional Lubricants
Since the first half of this century, wire rope lubrication has been attempted with greases,
petroleum, asphalt based materials , or oils. The heavier products such as petroleum, asphalt, or
grease usually are applied with solvents or are heated until penetration is thorough. Data
generated by research (1, 2) have cast light upon serious shortcomings of these approaches.
First, heated materials rapidly cool when applied, casting doubt upon their ability to penetrate.
Second, solvent-based products constantly change viscosity during application, and therefore
have possible penetration problems of their own. Oils lack adequate wear and E.P. properties and
offer poor corrosion protections unless continually applied. Even then, oils fare poorly under
adverse conditions.
High Viscosity Materials
Recently, high pressure applicators have been developed to specifically address the problems of
penetration with high viscosity materials. Asphalt based products, petroleum, and grease
products, however, have an even more severe shortcoming in that in any dynamic situation, even
if the rope is stationary, simply under tension (supporting dead weight) the compression of
strands induced by weight, movement, or stress creates a migration pattern from the center of
the rope outward. Temperature alone can increase the rate significantly, but even in warm
climates this is only moderated, because migration is a response to characteristics of the viscous
nature of materials used.
This event starves the center of its lubricant and thus allows fretting (friction between strands)
and its accompanying corrosion to occur. Unfortunately, the phenomenon is hidden from the
operator because lubricating materials remain on the outside diameter giving the appearance of a
well saturated rope. In fact, close inspection , which is also hindered by the opacity of commonly
used materials, will show the inner core corroding and wearing at an increasing rate(3). In severe
cases one can see an almost hollow core due to center degeneration. This is a safety hazard and
destroys a valuable piece of equipment.
Modern Lubricants
These shortcomings point up the characteristics that a modern wire rope lubricant should have.
The material should provide anti-wear, extreme pressure and good corrosion protection. This
implies a fluid material which can penetrate, rapidly re-heal during use, and allow periodic strand
inspection. Since the material is thin, it will have to be periodically replenished during use, and
herein lies a key.
Maintenance Intervals
Wire ropes need to be maintained and lubricated like any other piece of equipment. The object is
to learn the maintenance time interval which is best determined by the duty cycle. Many drag
lines must be lubricated continuously, some guy lines are inspected only once a month, if that
often, but this should be a a function of environment amount of use and past experience. The
new system of wire rope lubrication reveals how high viscosity materials not only failed, but
perpetuated neglect by giving the appearance of being well covered and lubricated.
The new approach may require continuous, daily, or weekly re-lube cycles, but can, in some
cases, increase wire rope life 50% to 150%.
The Solution
Slip 2000 TM is designed to fill the need by industry for a dynamic lubricant with outstanding
corrosion inhibiting ability in conjunction with excellent anti-wear and extreme pressure
characteristics which exceed those of many greases and most petrolatum and asphalt
formulations. This synthetic material has outstanding physical properties, being a functional
lubricating film from -110 degrees F to 400 degrees F. It is non-solvent, essentially non-toxic,
biodegradable and has good penetrating capabilities. Slip 2000 TM can be applied by as a simple
an apparatus as a gravity fed trickle system or by a continuous central lube system. Airless
sprayer, compressed air sprayers, dipping and painting, have all been used to apply Slip 2000 TM
. It is designed to give protection against hydrogen sulfide (H2S), mild mineral acids, carbon
dioxide (CO2), saltwater and brackish environments, musky water, chlorine and similar adverse
environments.
Slip 2000 TM is virtually colorless when applied, allowing for easy inspection. Its formulated high
strength film provides excellent anti-wear and extreme pressure characteristics to help stop
fretting and wear, and is resistant to water wash-off.
Slip 2000's extremely thin film (less that .001 inch) resists dirt pickup, yet its film is exceedingly
tenacious, affording protection even in the most dynamic situations.
The new fluid will penetrate to the rope's center. It is compatible with natural fiber, polyethylene,
and polypropylene cores, and compatible with petroleum based products which may already be in
place. It is presently being used to lubricate mine shaft ropes, drill lines, rig-out lines, fishing fleet
cables, drag lines, work-over lines, and has approval for use as a lubricant and preservative on
post tension tendons in construction of nuclear power plants.
Wire Rope Product Profile PDF