Electrically charged bearing wear test with non-conductive and conductive grease

Our new video simulates the challenges faced with a bearing static discharge application. In the test a bearing is electrically charged; when a bearing is lubricated with a non-conductive grease, static discharge is not only a safety concern but wear and pitting occurs at a much increased rate when compared with a quality synthetic electrically conductive grease such as Tribosyn 610.

It should be noted that some electric motors can generate internal voltages and currents that may or may not discharge through the bearing, so static electricity is not the only source of electrically induced bearing wear. This is especially true of variable frequency drive motors.

A synopsis of this test video is below whereby an electrically charged bearing is operated to demonstrate the difference in bearing wear and pitting, comparing conductive grease with non-conductive grease:

R&D project or prototyping stage and interested in this product? Small amounts of the Tribosyn 610 conductive grease that is featured in this video can be purchased at our online shop.