Tech-Info 08: What effects does wire rope lubricant have on the rope

The wire rope lubricant has two essential tasks: on the one hand, it should protect the rope against corrosion, on the other hand, it should reduce the coefficient of friction between the rope elements themselves and between the rope and the sheave or drum. Reducing the coefficient of friction reduces the required drive power and reduces wear on the rope, sheave, and drum. We distinguish between wax-based lubricants and oil-based lubricants. While wax-based lubricants allow better handling, oil-based lubricants have the advantage that a torn lubricating film can close again automatically under the effect of gravity.