Chain lubricant covers three formulation families — motorcycle O-ring / X-ring chain (sprayable wet-then-dry with PTFE), industrial roller chain (drip-feed penetrating + tacky), and food-grade conveyor chain (NSF H1 white oil + aluminium complex). All three need to penetrate the pin/bush gap initially then leave a sustained tacky boundary film. This guide gives BOMs for all three plus O-ring compatibility, India brand map and pricing.
| Component | Function | % (m/m) | Indian Supplier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mineral spirits / kerosene | Penetrating carrier — flashes off in 5-10 min | 45.0% | IOCL Solvent / Reliance solvents |
| PAO 6 cSt | Synthetic base oil for low-temp + clean | 18.0% | INEOS Durasyn 168 / SpectraSyn |
| PIB tackifier (Mn 2300) | Adhesion after solvent flash | 12.0% | BASF Glissopal HR / INEOS Indopol |
| Paraffin wax (drop 60-65 °C) | Residual waxy film on chain plate | 8.0% | Indian paraffin wax suppliers |
| Polyisoprene latex | High-MW film former | 4.0% | OPPANOL / specialty |
| Sulphurised olefin EP (low-active S) | Pin-bush boundary EP | 3.0% | Lubrizol Anglamol / LC-EP-SULF |
| Mixed ZDDP AW | Anti-wear | 1.5% | Lubrizol / Lubechem LC-AW-ZDDP |
| PTFE micro-powder (1-5 µm) | Solid lubricant boundary film | 2.5% | Dyneon / 3M / specialty PTFE |
| MoDTC FM | Friction modifier | 0.3% | Vanderbilt Vanlube 829 |
| 2,6-DTBP phenolic AO | Antioxidant | 0.4% | BASF Irganox |
| ASA + TTA CI | Corrosion inhibitor | 0.4% | King K-Corr + Cobratec |
| NMP / DPM solvent | Co-solvent for additive solubility | 4.0% | Solvent suppliers |
| Anti-rust amine | Vapour-phase CI for storage | 0.5% | Specialty amine CI suppliers |
| Red dye + jasmine fragrance | Visual identification + scent | 300 ppm | Clariant / fragrance |
| Propellant (LPG / DME for aerosol) | Aerosol propellant (added at fill) | 0.3% | Aerosol filling plant |
| TOTAL | 100.0% | — | |
Process: dissolve PIB + polyisoprene + paraffin wax in solvent + PAO at 60 °C; cool; add PTFE with high-shear dispersion; add EP / AW / FM / AO / CI / dye / fragrance. Fill in 200-500 ml aerosol can with LPG/DME propellant. Ex-works concentrate cost ₹520-720 / kg; full filled aerosol retail ₹280-650 / 400 ml can. NBR O-ring compat >90% volume retention after 168 hr immersion at 80 °C.
| Component | Function | % (m/m) | Indian Supplier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group I SN500 base oil | Carrier base, KV40 ~130 cSt | 65.0% | IOCL / HPCL Group I |
| PIB tackifier (Mn 1300) | Sustained tacky adhesion | 8.0% | BASF Glissopal |
| Polyisoprene | High-MW film former | 3.0% | OPPANOL / specialty |
| Sulphurised olefin EP | Pin-bush boundary EP | 4.0% | Lubrizol Anglamol / BRB |
| Mixed ZDDP | Anti-wear | 2.0% | Lubrizol / Lubechem LC-AW |
| 2,6-DTBP phenolic AO | Primary AO | 0.5% | BASF Irganox |
| Alkylated DPA aminic AO | Secondary AO | 0.3% | LANXESS Naugalube |
| MoDTC FM | Friction modifier | 0.3% | Vanderbilt |
| ASA CI | Ferrous rust inhibitor | 0.5% | King K-Corr |
| TTA yellow-metal CI | Cu / brass protection | 0.05% | Cobratec TT-100 |
| Ca sulfonate CI | Vapour-phase CI | 0.5% | Lubechem LC-DTR-CASULF |
| Calcium nitrite | Vapour-phase rust | 0.3% | Indian inorganic |
| Mineral spirits / paraffin oil thinner | Penetrating thinner | 15.0% | IOCL solvents |
| Amber dye | Visual identification | 100 ppm | Clariant |
| TOTAL | 100.0% | — | |
Process: dissolve PIB + polyisoprene in warm base oil + thinner at 60-70 °C; cool; add EP / AW / AO / CI / dye. Drip-feed delivery to chain pin gap, or manual brush application. Ex-works cost ₹130-185 / kg in 200 L drum or 1 MT IBC.
Motorcycle O-ring/X-ring chain lube — semi-fluid sprayable formulation that penetrates pin/bush gap initially then becomes tacky after solvent evaporation. BOM (%): mineral spirits / kerosene 45%, PAO 6 cSt 18%, PIB tackifier 12%, paraffin wax 8%, polyisoprene 4%, sulphurised olefin EP 3%, ZDDP 1.5%, PTFE micro-powder 2.5%, MoDTC 0.3%, phenolic AO 0.4%, ASA + TTA CI 0.4%, NMP / DPM solvent 4%, anti-rust amine 0.5%.
Wet-spray application, solvent flash in 5-10 min, residual tacky waxy film penetrates O-ring chain pin/bush gap and stays on outer plate.
Industrial roller chain lube for conveyor, drive, sprocket chain. BOM (%): Group I SN500 65%, PIB tackifier 8%, polyisoprene 3%, sulphurised olefin EP 4%, ZDDP 2%, phenolic AO 0.5%, aminic AO 0.3%, MoDTC 0.3%, ASA CI 0.5%, TTA 0.05%, Ca sulfonate 0.5%, Ca nitrite 0.3%, mineral spirits 15%, dye 100 ppm.
Drip-feed or brush application onto chain pin/roller. Sustained boundary lubrication 24-48 hr depending on speed and ambient temp.
PTFE micro-powder at 1-5 µm particle size, treat 1-3% in motorcycle chain lube. Forms a low-friction (μ 0.04-0.06) solid-lubricant film inside the chain pin/bush gap that supplements the wax + tackifier oil film. PTFE works at boundary lubrication regime where oil film breaks under high pin-bush contact pressure.
Critical for high-mileage chain life — PTFE-loaded chain lube gives 2-3x chain life vs straight tacky-oil chain lube. Premium motorcycle chain lubes (Motul Chain Lube Road, Wurth Dry Chain Lube, Castrol Chain Lubricant) use PTFE.
Motorcycle O-ring and X-ring chains (DID, RK, EK) have NBR (nitrile rubber) or HNBR (hydrogenated nitrile) sealing rings between the link plates. The chain lube must NOT attack the O-ring rubber — solvents like aromatic xylene / toluene attack NBR. Compatible solvents: mineral spirits (low aromatic), kerosene, naphtha. Compatible base oils: PAO, paraffinic mineral, some esters (TMP-trioleate OK, adipate ester attack).
Compatibility tested by 168 hr immersion of NBR O-ring at 80 °C — volume swell <10%, tensile strength retention >80%.
NSF H1 food-grade conveyor chain lube uses white oil USP food-grade base + aluminium complex thickener + H1-approved AW/EP (amine phosphate). BOM (%): white oil USP 65%, aluminium isostearate 4%, isostearic acid 2.5%, sulphurised triglyceride EP (food-grade) 6%, amine phosphate AW 2%, BHT 0.5%, naphthalene-based CI 0.5%, microcrystalline wax 8%, PIB tackifier 4%, NSF H1 dye 100 ppm.
NSF H1 registration mandatory. Premium pricing — ₹650-1,200 / kg.
Motorcycle chain lube — fastest-growing segment with India's 20M+ annual 2W sales. Brands: Motul Chain Lube Road, Wurth, Castrol, IPONE, Liqui Moly, Bardahl. Aerosol can 200-400 ml sold via 2W workshop and online. ₹280-650 / 400 ml can.
Industrial chain lube — bulk drum sold to factory maintenance. ₹140-280 / kg. Lubechem custom motorcycle chain lube (LC-CHAIN-MOTO) ex-works ₹520-720 / kg of concentrate; industrial chain lube (LC-CHAIN-IND) ex-works ₹130-185 / kg in bulk.
Share your application (motorcycle / industrial / food-grade), volume and pack format (aerosol can / drum / IBC). We respond within one business day with the BOM and ex-works cost.