Hank Lubricating Oils and Greases FAQ
What is Hank?
Hank is a brand name for a series of specialty synthetic lubricants, offering multiple product models.
Hank lubricants have a wide range of applications, especially in applications requiring extremely high or low temperatures, non-flammability, long service life, oxidation resistance, and chemical corrosion resistance.
What are the main differences between the various Hank lubricating oils?
Each Hank lubricating oil has its own unique characteristics to suit specific industries or environments. The Hank lubricating oil series includes:
Hank GPL General Purpose Lubricating Oil, a cost-effective base lubricant specifically for industrial applications.
Hank XHT Extreme High Temperature Lubricating Oil, specially formulated for greater thermal stability at high temperatures above 300 °C (572 °F).
Hank Aerospace Lubricating Oil, with stricter specifications for volatility and a narrower distillation range compared to GPL series lubricants.
Hank VPF vacuum pump oil with excellent vapor pressure performance.
More information is listed in the Hank high-performance lubricants product overview.
Do Hank lubricants contain silicone?
No. Hank lubricating oils and greases do not contain any silicone, and silicone is not used in their production process.
What are the different models of Hank GPL lubricants, and what are their typical applications?
Hank GPL 10X series lubricating oils and Hank GPL 20X series greases do not contain any additives and are suitable for components that need to come into contact with most chemicals commonly used in industry. Typical applications include valves or bearings, seal barrier fluids, instruments, and oxygen systems.
The Hank GPL 21X series contains molybdenum disulfide and is suitable for extreme pressure (EP) conditions, and can be used in low-speed or high-load applications.
The Hank GPL 22X series contains sodium nitrite rust and corrosion inhibitors and anti-wear additives, and can improve load-carrying performance, making it ideal for applications in corrosive environments. Typical applications include automotive bearings, sealed pump bearings, motor bearings, and general-purpose bearings.
Hank GPL 29X series greases have extreme pressure properties and use rust inhibitors, making them suitable for applications requiring high load-carrying capacity and rust protection.
Hank GPL 2EX series greases use a proprietary rust inhibitor formulation. This grease is similar to Hank GPL 22X series grease, but it contains non-nitrite rust inhibitors.
Please visit the Hank GPL product page to learn about the complete lubricant range and its product data sheets.
What are the ingredients in Hank lubricants?
Hank fluorinated oils are a series of low-molecular-weight, fluorine end-capped hexafluoropropylene oxide homopolymers. The polymer chain is fully saturated and contains only carbon, oxygen, and fluorine, with no hydrogen.
Hank High-Performance Lubricant Applications
What applications are Hank lubricants suitable for?
Hank lubricants are suitable for applications requiring non-flammability, oxidation resistance, material compatibility, high-temperature stability, and chemical corrosion resistance. These include the following industries:
Automotive
Aerospace
Chemical Processing
Electronics and Semiconductors
Corrugated Board Machines, Pulp and Paper
Industrial Maintenance, Repair and Operations (MRO)
Please refer to the Hank High-Performance Lubricants Product Overview or the Hank Lubricant Product Selection Guide for more information.
What is the NLGI consistency of each Hank grease model?
Grease is a mixture of base oil and thickener. Hank greases use a special ultra-fine-particle PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) with highly efficient thickening capability.
Base oils of different viscosities can be used in grease to meet different temperature and load requirements.
Additives are typically added to grease to enhance rust prevention, improve load-carrying capacity, and reduce wear. Our standard grease models are NLGI (National Lubricating Grease Institute) No. 2 grease; however, we can produce greases with NLGI grades from 000 to 6 upon customer request. For more information on NLGI grade options, please refer to the Hank High-Performance Lubricants Product Overview.
What preparations are needed before using Hank lubricants in bearings?
Before applying Hank grease, the bearing's original grease, lubricating oil, or rust-preventive oil used during storage should be removed. If non-PFPE (perfluoropolyether) lubricating oil or grease remains in the bearing, it can form carbon deposits at high temperatures, which may accelerate bearing failure.
If Hank lubricants are used, is continuous lubrication required?
For most applications, relubrication intervals can be extended by months or years. For example, in bearing applications, corrugated paper machines typically require grease replenishment every three to twelve months, depending on the equipment's operating rate. In sealed systems, Hank lubricants offer outstanding durability, so relubrication is not required.
Can Hank grease be mixed with other greases?
Although Hank grease will not react with other greases or cause breakdown or any hazardous reactions, it cannot prevent other lubricants from failing due to high temperatures and oxidation. Therefore, we do not recommend mixing Hank lubricants with any non-perfluoropolyether (PFPE) oils or greases.
Features of Hank high-performance lubricants
What certifications have Hank lubricants obtained?
The following certifications have been obtained for specific product models:
MIL-Spec PRF-27617 grease is approved for aerospace applications.
NSF H1-certified lubricants can be used for the lubrication of food machinery and equipment that may come into incidental contact with food.
Independently tested and confirmed by major oxygen manufacturers and testing organizations (including BAM) for use with LOX (liquid oxygen) and GOX (gaseous oxygen).
DIN 3536: Lubricants can be used for valves in indoor installations, gas distribution and gas transmission pipelines.
DIN EN 377: Lubricants can be used for gas appliances and related accessories.
What manufacturing certifications have HANK lubricants obtained?
HANK lubricants are manufactured based on the following certifications:
ISO 9001 Certified Quality Management System
ISO 14001 Certified Environmental Management System
Are HANK lubricants flammable?
No. HANK lubricating oils (greases) are non-flammable and have no flash point.
How stable are HANK lubricants when exposed to chemicals?
HANK perfluoropolyether (PFPE) lubricating oils and greases thickened with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) offer excellent chemical stability. HANK lubricating oils and greases will not react with or degrade most chemicals (except Lewis acids and alkali metals).
HANK high-performance lubricants are not only resistant to oxygen and reactive gases, but also virtually non-reactive with almost all chemicals used across most industries. For more details, please refer to HANK Lubricants: Chemical Stability or Gas Compatibility.
Are Hank lubricants compatible with non-metallic materials?
Yes. For over 60 years, Hank lubricating oils and greases have been used to lubricate plastic and elastomer components. For more information, please refer to the Hank lubricant plastic and elastomer compatibility document.
Contamination is one of the most serious challenges bearings face. Debris, rust-preventive oil, and other residues can limit lubrication performance, potentially leading to failure. Properly handling bearings and using high-quality lubricants, such as Hank high-performance lubricants, can reduce equipment downtime and lower maintenance costs.
What are the best practices for ensuring proper bearing lubrication?
Follow these five steps and watch the video to ensure proper bearing lubrication:
Ensure the work area is clean and use appropriate tools.
Remove the bearing seals.
Clean the bearing with solvent and dry it.
Apply grease, check that the amount is appropriate, and ensure even distribution.
Replace the seals and covers.
