WHAT WE DO

Glossary of Terms

Lacquer: a deposit resulting from the oxidation and polymerization of fuels and lubricants when exposed to high temperatures. Similar to, but harder, than varnish.

Laminar particles: particles generated in rolling element bearings which have been flattened out by a rolling contact.

Light Ends : Low-boiling volatile materials in a petroleum fraction. They are often unwanted and undesirable, but in gasoline the proportion of light ends deliberately included are used to assist low-temperature starting.

Lip seal: an elastomeric or metallic seal that prevents leakage in dynamic and static applications by a scraping or wiping action at a controlled interference between itself and the mating surface.

Liquid: any substance that flows readily or changes in response to the smallest influence. More generally, any substance in which the force required to produce a deformation depends on the rate of deformation rather than on the magnitude of the deformation.

Lithium Grease: The most common type of grease today, based on lithium soaps.

Load-carrying capacity: property of a lubricant to form a film on the lubricated surface, which resists rupture under given load conditions. Expressed as maximum load the lubricated system can support without failure or excessive wear.