A leading, Europe-based manufacturer of tailormade mechatronic actuator systems for automotive applications selected MOLYKOTE® G-1074 Grease to provide the high-performance lubrication needed on its advanced roll stabilizer for an active suspension system. The system is designed and developed to reduce body tilt during cornering and hard turns, keeping the vehicle more level during such maneuvers to improve handling and safety. The initial application is on selected models of a luxury vehicle brand.

Faster-acting than typical hydraulically actuated roll stabilizers, the advanced electromechanical design incorporates a strain-wave gearbox, specially developed brushless motor and an electronic controller to influence torque coupling and dramatically reduce rolling movements of the vehicle. In evaluating potential lubricants for the stabilizer gearbox application, the manufacturer selected MOLYKOTE® G-1074 Grease for its superior performance compared to an initially qualified lubricant choice.

Customer

A manufacturer of mechatronic actuator systems developed a backlash-free, high-reduction strain-wave gearbox for an active stabilizer suspension system being used on select models of a luxuryclass vehicle brand. The company is a subsidiary of a world market leader in precision gears and actuator systems for robotics and for the railway, automotive and aerospace industries.

Challenge

To meet a vehicle OEM customer's performance specifications, the manufacturer of the strain-wave gear technology needed an effective lubricant to outperform current PAO-based grease options. Key lubrication criteria included noise-damping capabilities, good lubricity with high-pressure sliding friction, good low-temperature performance, suitable grease mobility, and compatibility with gearbox elastomer seals.

Solution

The manufacturer collaborated with MOLYKOTE® brand application engineering specialists to identify an effective solution to meet the gearbox lubrication needs. Compared with an initial PAO/ester grease for gearbox lubrication, MOLYKOTE® G-1074 Grease delivered superior performance. Potential benefits included less noise, reduced oil separation and oxidation, and good lubricity under extreme pressures across a wide temperature range.

The strain-wave gearing works on elastic dynamics and utilizes the flexibility of metal. It offers excellent positioning accuracy and repeatability, high torque capacity, a wide range of reduction ratios (50:1 to 320:1) in the same package size, zero backlash, lightweight and compact designs, and coaxial input and output shafts.

Excellent noise-damping performance/properties
Fortified with additives to work under extreme pressure at high frequency
Excellent wide temperature performance

Advantages

The performance properties of MOLYKOTE® G-1074 Grease compare favorably with those of the initial lubricant option for the gearbox application.

Potential advantages of MOLYKOTE® G-1074 Grease include:

Better noise-reduction capabilities
Reduced friction under extreme pressure at high frequency
Less oil separation
Better oxidation stability
Good lubricity over a wide service-temperature range
Excellent compatibility with H-NBR sealing elastomers

Based on gearbox lubrication performance in the vehicle active suspension system, the manufacturer expects to qualify MOLYKOTE® G-1074 Grease for use in other actuator applications for robotics, farm machinery, autonomous vehicles, industrial control technologies and more. Based on industry interest, mechatronic roll stabilizer applications have sizable growth potential across multiple vehicle platforms.

Applications & Uses

Markets

Automotive & Transportation

Applications

Automotive & Transportation — Lubricants & Functional Fluids,

Automotive Fluids & Lubricants,

Application Areas

Application Method

Use Recommendations

With excellent noise-damping properties, high performance under extreme pressure at high frequency, and a wide service-temperature range, MOLYKOTE® G-1074 Grease offers significant performance advantages for use in other applications.

Effective on most common metals, plastics and elastomers, this PAO-based grease is an excellent lubricant for bearings, gears, slides and other applications requiring low friction under heavy loads. It provides an effective solution for noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) control in automotive applications involving chassis and brake systems, as well as selected exterior or interior components.

Automotive systems, such as chassis and brake, exterior, and interior. Ideal for bearings, gears, slides and mechanical applications requiring low friction and compatibility with common metals, plastics and/or elastomers.

How to Use

Clean points of application. As is usual with lubricating greases, apply or fill by means of a brush, spatula or automated lubrication device.

Properties

Compatible Substrates & Surfaces

Elastomers & Rubbers,

Metal,

Plastics

Physical Form

Semi-solid

Appearance

Translucent

Typical Properties


	Value	Units	Test Method / Conditions
Temperature Range	-190	°C	-
Base Oil Viscosity (40°C)	53	mm2/s	JIS K 2283
Base Oil Viscosity (100°C)	8.5	mm2/s	-
Bleed (24 h, 100°C)	3.6	%	JIS K 2220
Evaporation (99°C, 22 h)	0.1	%	JIS K 2220
Water Washout Test (38°C, 1 hr)	1.98	%	JIS K 2220
Four Balll Test - Wear Scar (1,200 rpm, 392N, 1 hr)	0.69	mm	ASTM D2266
SRV - Extreme Pressure (50°C, 50 Hz, 1mm, Procedure A)	1	N	ASTM D5706
Low Temperature Torque Test - Starting Torque (-40°C)	99	mNm	JIS K 2220
Low Temperature Torque Test - Running Torque (-40°C)	50	mNm	JIS K 2220
Density	0.9	-	-
Dropping Point	210	°C	-
Penetration	280	-	JIS K 2220

Technical Details & Test Data

Comparative Performance Testing

MOLYKOTE® G-1074 Grease has demonstrated superior capabilities over two different competitive lubricants in comparative performance testing. This technical data shows clear advantages in terms of reduced friction under extreme pressure, less noise generation and a more stable coefficient of friction. These test results provided the design team support for selecting MOLYKOTE® G-1074 Grease as the strain-wave gearbox lubricant.

SRV extreme-pressure test results: ASTM D5706

MOLYKOTE® G-1074 Grease has much greater extreme-pressure value than Competitors A and B.

Noise test results vs. Competitor A

Noise test results vs. Competitor B

These values indicate that MOLYKOTE® G-1074 Grease will reduce noise by 30% more than Competitor A and will reduce noise by 26% more than Competitor B

SRV coefficient of friction test results: ASTM D5707

Temperature: 80ËšC
load: 200 N (break in: 50 N, 30 s)
stroke: 1 mm
frequency: 50 Hz
test ball: SUJ-2
test disk: PA66

Property tested, unit	MOLYKOTE® G-1074 Grease	Competitor A	Competitor B
COF minimum	0.063; 0.056	0.063; 0.065	0.062; 0.065
COF end	0.069; 0.067	0.071; 0.071	0.069; 0.066
Wear scar - ball, mm	0; 0	0; 0	0; 0
Depth of wear scar - disk, μm	42; 42	62; 60	54; 55

Compared to Competitor A, MOLYKOTE® G-1074 Grease shifted smoothly, while Competitor A had strong fluctuation until 20 minutes. Compared to Competitor B, MOLYKOTE® G-1074 Grease shifted stably and smoothly, while Competitor B had large fluctuation until 20 minutes and COF slightly dropped in 30 minutes

Lubrication Solutions

Faced with potential performance issues with its initial gearbox lubricant choice, the actuator system manufacturer requested help. Trust in the MOLYKOTE® brand - our specialty lubrication expertise, problem-solving capabilities and broad technical support opened an opportunity to evaluate an application-matched noise-damping grease.

MOLYKOTE® G-1074 Grease was identified as a potential solution to meet customer requirements for effective lubrication of the strainwave gearbox used in the active roll stabilizer suspension system. This high-performance lubricant is formulated to provide excellent lubricity under extreme pressure, low noise, materials compatibility with most materials, and good flow characteristics across a wide servicetemperature range. It consists of a polyalphaolefin (PAO) base oil, thickened with lithium soap and fortified with Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and antioxidant additives.