LinkUp Aquires NatureBlend Rail Lubricants
What are Solid Polymer Lubricants?
NatureBlend has continued to innovate with its extreme pressure lubricant formulations and has recently developed and launched its NatureBlend line of solid polymer lubricants for wheel flange lubrication. This material is an environmentally friendly formulation produced using both renewable and biodegradable polymers and lubricants.
Solid polymer lubricants are specially formulated materials designed to provide lubrication to steel on steel surfaces. The material is comprised of various extreme pressure additives and other lubricants bound in a polymer matrix. This solid material enables the lubricant to be applied directly to the point of contact in a clean and highly efficient manner and deposit a thin film of lubricant.
These materials were originally developed to provide lubrication to locomotive wheels; however offer benefit for a wide range of other applications where thin film lubrication is needed. The solid polymer lubricants transfer to any metal surface they contact and the transfer rate of lubrication can be controlled depending of the rate of application required.
Products
Wheel Flange Lubrication
The NatureBlend formulation was developed in an effort to provide a more environmentally friendly form of polymer lubricants. This patent pending formulation uses both renewable and biodegradable polymers and oils to provide the rail industry with an alternative to traditional hydrocarbon based lubricants. The product is available in a wide variety of shapes and sizes to fit most flange lubrication applicators.
NatureBlend was the first to bring solid polymer lubricants to the rail industry for flange lubrication and has continued to innovate with the development of its NatureBlend formulation. The benefits associated with flange lubrication have been widely studied and include the following:
- Saves fuel by reducing wheel/rail friction
- Significantly reduces flange wear
- Reduces frequency of wheel truing
- Increases wheel life
- Increases rail life
- Reduces reliance on trackside lubricators
Flange Lubrication Applicators
NatureBlend has developed a series of highly durable and reliable applicators for its SolidStick product line. These applicators use a standard spring loaded feeding mechanism and alternative mounting brackets to ensure SolidStick can be installed on any make or model of locomotive.
The applicators are typically installed on the most accessible axles of the locomotives. Due to the unique formulation of the solid polymer lubricants, the applicators provide benefit to the axle they are installed on as well as subsequent locomotive and car wheels. The applicators can also be installed on executive cars to reduce noise and wheel wear and well and provide energy savings while in operation.
