Lubrication Regime

A lubricant’s primary function is to provide a healthy oil film to control friction and wear between moving bearing surfaces. The degree of surface protection is determined by the lubricating condition or “regime” present between moving surfaces. Lubricants typically operate under one of four lubricating regimes: boundary lubrication; elasto-hydrodynamic lubrication; full fluid-film lubrication; or hydrodynamic lubrication.