How clean are your lubricants?

The lubrication industry strives continuously to meet the evolving needs of the food processing industry. For example, NSF H1 registered food grade lubricants can minimize risks associated with low levels of lubricant contamination in foods and beverages. However, contaminants can compromise the performance of any lubricant. Furthermore, microscopic particle contaminants can cause irreversible damage to machinery. This article discusses sources of contamination, their deleterious effects, methods to measure particle contamination, and means to ensure lubricant cleanliness.