Long-term Lubrication Solution for Agitator Bearings in Chemical Reactors — Application of MOLYKOTE® 3451

In the production processes of the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, agitator bearings in reactors often operate under extremely harsh conditions. These working conditions usually involve high temperatures (sometimes approaching 200°C), heavy loads, and exposure to various corrosive media (such as acid mists, solvent vapors, chlorides, etc.). Conventional multi-purpose lithium greases are prone to being decomposed by chemical media, washed away, or rapidly oxidized and deteriorated in such environments, leading to dry running of bearings, rust seizure, unplanned downtime, increased maintenance costs, and safety risks.

To address this challenge, equipment maintenance engineers selected MOLYKOTE® 3451 Chemical Resistant Bearing Grease as the lubrication solution for the agitator bearings. This product is a high-performance grease synthesized from fluorosilicone oil as the base oil and fluorinated polymer (PTFE) as the thickener.

• Excellent Chemical Resistance: It effectively resists the erosion of acids, alkalis, solvents (such as toluene, methanol, hexane, etc.), and low-pressure steam, maintaining structural stability even in environments with chemical splashes or condensation
• Wide Temperature Stability: The service temperature range covers -40°C to 232°C. After testing at 200°C for 24 hours, its evaporation loss is only 3.8% and oil bleed is 4.5%, ensuring long-life lubrication at high temperatures.
• Good Material Compatibility: Compatible with most commonly used seals, gaskets, and packings, it does not cause excessive swelling or shrinkage of rubbers (such as NBR, FKM), ensuring the integrity of the bearing sealing system
• Excellent Load Carrying and Water Resistance: With a 4-ball weld load of 340 Kg and less than 0.3% washout at 80°C, it is suitable for working conditions with washing or condensate water.

• Extended Relubrication Intervals: Due to the grease's extremely low volatility and excellent oxidation resistance, the relubrication interval has been greatly extended from once a month to inspection/re-greasing every six months or longer, reducing manual maintenance frequency.
• Reduced Unexpected Downtime: The rate of bearing seizure and equipment failure caused by lubrication failure has significantly decreased, ensuring the continuous and stable operation of the production line.
• Equipment Protection: In the face of solvent leakage or high-pressure water jet cleaning, the grease is not washed away or softened (refer to <0.3% Water Washout and solvent resistance in TDS), always maintaining an effective oil film at the friction interface.

With its fluorosilicone synthetic technology, MOLYKOTE® 3451 successfully solves the lubrication problem of bearings in chemical equipment under complex working conditions of "high temperature + heavy load + strong chemical corrosion". It is not only an ideal choice for chemical mixers, pumps, and needle bearings in circuit breakers but also a reliable guarantee for various sealed-for-life bearings exposed to harsh environments