Boron nitride powder approved for lube use

A Sabic Innovative Plastics product story

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Oct 13, 2005

GE Advanced Materials' boron nitride powder has been designated acceptable for use in non-food-contact lubricants.

The National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) International has designated 16 grades of GE Advanced Materials' boron nitride (BN) powder as acceptable for use in non-food-contact lubricants, ingredients in non-food- and incidental-contact lubricants, such as greases, oils, and dry films.

The move establishes GE as the only supplier of boron nitride ceramic powders that is compliant with this particular NSF certification.

Each of the 16 GE BN grades received H-2, HX-2, and HX-1 designations under the NSF Nonfood Compounds Registration Programme, which is a continuation of USDA 21 CFR 178.3570.

GE's boron nitride powders have been declared acceptable for use in the following food processing areas: as a lubricant where there is no possibility of food contact (H-2) - these applications are typically found on the underside of food processing equipment where food has no possibility of contact with any lubricating components or lubricating fluids from those components; as an ingredient in lubricants with no food contact (HX-2); and as an ingredient, not to exceed 40% by weight, in lubricants with incidental food contact (HX-1) - generally applied in equipment where food passes below lubricated areas and components of processing equipment.

"This latest development further exemplifies GE Advanced Materials' commitment to take a leadership position in all of its core product technologies", said Bob Marchiando, Industry Manager, Lubrication and Wear, GE Advanced Materials.

"The company not only offers boron nitride powder with this specific NSF registration, it offers 16 different grades that all meet the criteria".

Lubricants must be given careful consideration, given the possibility of their coming into contact with food.

Despite careful application, minor lubricant leaks into food are relatively common.

Thus, food grade lubricants are essential in the production process.

Lubricants possessing NSF registration are becoming increasingly attractive and growing in demand for these applications.

With boron nitride's recent NSF registration, food manufacturers now can more confidently use boron nitride as a lubricant in/on their food processing equipment.

BN is a white, inorganic, chemically inert and nontoxic powder.

As a solid lubricant, it offers excellent performance at high temperatures and pressures, with low thermal expansion and an ability to provide high thermal conductivity.

Listed in NSF International's Nonfood Compounds White Book, the 16 GE boron nitride ceramic powder grades are considered acceptable for use in lubricants with incidental food contact and in/as lubricants with no food contact across the food processing and packaging industries, ranging from meats to baked good and beverages.

Lubricants using GE's NSF-registered powders may also qualify for use in parts and equipment that have a potential for exposure to food such as conveyor belts, gears, and compressors.

The lubricants are also used for bearings, pumps, chains, packaging machinery, and plant maintenance, mainly on equipment/machinery.

All 16 GE grades that received the NSF registrations are available globally, and offer a range of excellent performance qualities, including: a low coefficient of friction, measuring as low as 0.12 in graphite-like boron nitride grades; thermal stability from cryogenic temperatures to heat levels reaching 1000C in air; high thermal conductivity for improved heat dissipation and reduced localised overheating; a high load-carrying capacity that is useful under extreme pressure or vacuum; low thermal expansion for minimal internal force generation in high temperature applications; and a white colour that gives lubricating systems a cleaner appearance compared with alternative solid lubricant additives.

NSF registrations may be verified at any time via the NSF website.