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Leybonol Overview

Vacuum pump oil and lubricants

Keep your vacuum pump and your production running smoothly

LEYBONOL vacuum pump oil

LEYBONOL is more than just oil. It's what keeps your pump going, lubricating moving parts, providing sealing and even removing contaminants from the process. High-quality oils and lubricants are vital to your vacuum pump’s performance and health. LEYBONOL is in-house engineered to ensure airtight lubrication, chemical stability, the required oxidation and heat tolerance. The right oil depends on your application and pump technology.

You can scroll on and read all about them, contact our experts for further support. Or make your life easy and use the oil finder to determine which oil you need.

 

Which oil is compatible with my vacuum pump?

What are the benefits of LEYBONOL vacuum pump oils?

Uptime and reliability

High-quality oils make sure you get the best performance out of our pump and reduce wear and tear so they last longer. You can keep your mind on your production process, LEYBONOL takes care of your pump.

Reduced maintenance costs

The oil’s quality determines the oil change intervals and of course, the wear and tear on your pump’s components. High-quality oil can even lower the pump’s power consumption, so you can save on your operational costs too.

Industry-leading quality standards of course

LEYBONOL is compliant with REACH, DSL and NDSL, GHS and many others. But we go beyond those standard regulations. All our oils are subject to frequent and rigorous testing to ensure each batch is consistent and provides the same outstanding vacuum performance.

What kind of oil does a vacuum pump use?

Mineral oil

Mineral oil offers a high degree of compatibility with elastomers and resistance to hydrolysis.

Frequently also termed semi-synthetic pump oil, hydrocracked oil are produced under an extremely high hydrogen pressure at elevated temperatures and are substantially free of aromatic compounds and olefins.

These oils show:

  • Higher thermal stability compared to conventional mineral vacuum pump oil.
  • In most cases, extended intervals between the vacuum pump oil changes.

Synthetic oil – ester

Ester oil is ideally used for vacuum pump applications involving high thermal dynamics.

Some of their primary properties include:

  • High temperatures
  • Average elastomer compatibility
  • Average hydrolysis resistance

Synthetic oil - Polyalphaolefin (PAO)

Polyalphaolefin oil is synthetic hydrocarbons which are paraffin-like yet contain a uniform structure. Thermal and chemical resistance is better compared to mineral oil.

They have great flowing properties when cold, meaning they are especially effective at:

  • Low temperatures
  • Elastomer compatibility
  • Resistance against hydrolysis

Synthetic oil – PFPE

PFPE oil is hassle-free in case of high temperatures. PFPE oil is practically inert against all chemical and oxidizing influences and will not polymerize under the influence of high energy radiation. A few points to bear in mind:

  • Reactions may take place at temperatures over approximately 150 °C (302 °F)
  • Perfluoropolyether is highly stable thermally and is not flammable.
  • Thermal decomposition may only take place at temperatures of over 290 °C (554 °F)

Diffusion pump oil 

Fluids for oil diffusion pumps must exhibit low vapor pressure at room temperature and must be able to resist thermal decomposition and oxidization to a significant extent. This means:

  • The surface tension of the pump fluids must be high to reduce the creep of oil films.
  • They must be chemically inert, exhibit a high flash point and evaporation heat must be low.
  • The pump fluids should permit high pumping speeds over a wide range of pressures and be cost-effective.

Special lubricants and greases

LEYBONOL’s portfolio also holds some special lubricants that cover exceptional applications.
LEYBONOL’s greases are solid substances that reduce friction and wear, ensuring movability of components and sealing off against contaminants. Greases can also be used as anti-rust and anticorrosion agents. They can also extend the lifetime of your pump. Browse our online shop to discover all LEYBONOL’s oils, lubricants and greases. Or reach out to our vacuum service expert for advice.

Leybonol, rental  and back up allocation

Have you checked our online store?

Here you can find and buy vacuum pump repair kits of high quality, vacuum pump spare parts, refurbished products and oil filters for the different pump models and a wide range of applications.

LEYBONOL document library

LEYBONOL Vacuum pump oil

PDF    4.1 MB

LEYBONOL LVO 521

PDF    747.3 kB

General service brochure

PDF    1.1 MB

Why does my vacuum pump require oil?

The oil inside the vacuum pump lubricates the pumping mechanism, while it collects moisture and contaminants from the evacuated systems. Simply put, oil is what keeps your pump pumping. 

What makes LEYBONOL better suited for my pump than other brands?

LEYBONOL Oils are formulated from selected premium performance, highly refined raw materials, and processed without any contamination or dilution. With extensive quality controls, LEYBONOL Oils are subjected to frequent ongoing and rigorous testing to ensure that each batch is consistent and provides the same outstanding vacuum performance. 

We design and test our oils under formal laboratory conditions, but also in field conditions, for all possible applications. 

How does vacuum pump oil contribute to lower cost of ownership?

High-quality vacuum pump oil, such as LEYBONOL reduces power consumption, wear and maintenance costs. In other words, LEYBONOL protects your pump and extends its life expectancy. LEYBONOL typically offers longer service intervals than other brands, so you save on maintenance costs.

Choosing high quality oil both safeguards the reliable pump performance and lowers your totat cost of ownship.

Can I use compressor oil in a vacuum pump?

Compressor oil and vacuum pump oil are not always compatible. Even though compressors and pumps sometimes share the same technology, like oil-sealed rotary screws or vanes, it’s not a good idea to mix or swap the lubricants. The properties of the oil, like viscosity and thermal oxidation stability, heavily depend on the application of the pump and for example, the temperature. In some cases, it may work out fine, but our advice is to use the appropriate oil. Use the oil finder to find out which oil is best for your pump.

How often should I change the oil in my vacuum pump?

: Lubricants cannot be used indefinitely, as they age over time their quality will degrade. Conditions like high temperatures, oxidation, or chemical and physical reactions with the process media can speed this aging even further. Not changing the oil in time can lead to the formation of sludges, resins, acids and crystallization. An oil change is always part of a scheduled service. How long the oil will last depend on the oil type. Synthetic oils with special additives are more resistant than mineral oils, for example. The standard lifetime of LEYBONOL’s oil is 0,5 years. Those oils offering extended lifetime should be changed after 1 year and our “long lifetime” oils will last up to 2 years.

How does temperature affect oil quality?

Your pump oil’s durability depends on many parameters and temperature has a big influence. Too hot or too cold, both can cause issues. An overview: Mineral oils: their max temperature limit would be 80°C (176°F), above that the oil will thicken. We find that every 10°C temperature increase reduced the oil service life by half. Synthetic oils endure a permanent operation at 100-160°C (212-320°F). PFPE oils are almost inert, they’re not as subject to typical oil ageing. Therefore, PFPE oils can stand permanent temperatures of up to 250°C (482°F). Operating conditions can also be too cold for the oil and as a result, water (and other) vapors may condense. Condensed liquid can cause loss of lubrication properties and even corrosion in the pump.

Can I mix various types of vacuum pump oils?

In some cases, oils are interchangeable, and, in some cases, it can cause serious damage, so we advise against this. Best case scenario your pump’s performance may deteriorate, worst case the whole pump may fail. In fact, the main cause of system problems is indeed caused by mistakes with oil. Especially mixing two types of oils can cause issues and should be avoided. If you want to change over to PFPE oil, your pumps should be handled in one of our authorized service centers. The pump must be completely disassembled and cleaned. It will also have its filters and seals replaced and be regreased.

How do I dispose of used vacuum pump oil?

Never pour discarded vacuum pump oil down the drain. Collect the old oil in a suitable container, for example the one it came in and handle it according to local recycling regulations. You can refer to the Safett Datasheet disposal considerations (normally in Section 13) for more information.

Does vacuum pump oil go bad?

The durability of your oil can deteriorate if you don't store it properly. Important recommendations for proper storing all LEYBONOL lubricants are:

1)      Storage temperature +10 to +30°C (+50 to +86°F)

2)      The containers should be protected against direct sunlight

3)      Drums should be stored horizontally

4)      Storage in enclosed indoor rooms

5)      The storage rooms should be clean and dry

Read more on when to change your oil

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