Study on aeronautical steel under minimal quantity lubrication

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to investigate that if the lubrication system of a helicopter reducer is compromised, its gears and bearings will be at non-lubricating oil work state, which causes the reducer to be damaged in a very short time.Design/methodology/approach– Various 2 per cent additives were injected and mixed with aeronautical oil to produce 45-min oil/mist lubrication and oil/air lubrication experiments performed upon aeronautical steel tribo-pairs.Findings– The results show that the best anti-wear effect is produced by oil/air lubrication that contains 2 per cent T391. It consumes the least quantity of oil and produces the least wear width, the least rise in temperature and the best surface wear quality.Originality/value– The technology of oil/air lubrication that contains an extreme-pressure and anti-wear additive is a feasible way to improve the operational ability of a helicopter transmission system that is out of oil.