Bethel Park, Pennsylvania
A Lubricant that Does the Job
In this day and age, it’s difficult to find a product that lives up to its advertising, but one does exist, and I found it. Marine Shield is a Teflon-free specialty lubricant manufactured in western Pennsylvania by Steel Shield Technologies.
The product was invented by George Fennell, a lubrication engineer with an entrepreneurial spirit. I learned that Marine Shield is but one of several lubricants that this company has tailored to various industrial applications. What distinguishes this particular additive is that it is waterproof, and good for any marine application. That is to say, neither salt water nor fresh water can break the chemical bond it forms with metal.
I saw a demonstration of Marine Shield at a trade show recently, which was remarkable. Normal motor oil was introduced to a test machine where increasing pressure was applied to two polished metal surfaces immersed in the oil. Eventually the pressure acted like a squeegee, wiping the oil from the metal. This was called “catastrophic failure” because the oil was no longer effective. The two metal surfaces began to tear away at one another, with a terrible grinding sound.
With a closer look, one could see how one metal part was ground into the other, depositing some of its metal. The technician left the metal all torn up and introduced some Marine Shield to the oily mix, which had floating metal particulates in it. After a few revolutions, the test machine went to the point of “catastrophic failure,” then far beyond it. The technician held this extreme pressure while he continued his lecture, but the visual was worth a thousand words.
A local operator asked if water would affect the lubrication at this point, so the technician removed the lubrication cup containing the oil, and began pouring water over the metal surfaces while applying extreme pressure to the test machine. Now with no oil and a water bath streaming over the metal, the test machine continued on with no grinding. An ammeter connected to the test machine clearly revealed that the amperage draw of the electric motor was no more that when the test machine was turning at idle — that’s to say no load on it whatsoever. This condition went on for about two or three minutes, leaving the gathering audience astounded — including this writer.
This product could be introduced into the oil holding tanks for engines and generators, while lithium grease containing Marine Shield can be pumped into any standard fittings on pulleys or hoists.
The kicker came at the end of the demonstration where even the most avid skeptics were silenced. The technician cleaned off the test machine with acetone (apparently the only chemical which breaks Marine Shield’s bond to the metal) and readied it for another demonstration. This time bare metal surfaces were in direct contact when he placed his finger over the bottle’s opening and wet his index finger with Marine Shield. He touched one of the metal surfaces, then immediately pulled extreme pressure (beyond “catastrophic failure”) and held it there for two minutes or so. With no oil whatsoever, the test machine drew no more amperage than at idle, and there was absolutely no grinding whatsoever!
The demonstration suggested to this writer that maybe one can teach an old dog new tricks, and that some new whiz-bang products do live up to their advertising. Ask your supplier about this product and some of the others manufactured by Steel Shield Technologies, you’ll have nothing to lose, including metal parts. q
For more information: www.steelshieldtech.com or contact: Steel Shield Technologies, Inc., 3351 Industrial Blvd., Bethel Park, PA 15102-2543
(1-800-390-1535).
Jennifer Litteral is marine program officer at the Island Institute.