ABSTRACT
The standards describe the physical properties of the chain but do little to describe the quality of it. There are manufacturers that build chain as a commodity item to meet the minimum specifications and there are other chain manufacturers whose products offer much, much more than meeting a minimum standard. Three factors to keep in mind are the materials, their relative action, and their lubrication. Regardless of how much the chain is lubricated, it is eventually going to wear and a gage can be used to check the relative condition of the chain. The increased load will increase the wear rate and reduce the chain life. The lubricant used should be an extreme pressure oil and if the chain is being used in a wet atmosphere it should also have additives for improved corrosion resistance. A general guideline for the lubricant viscosity is that it should be between 60 and 120 centistokes at the operating temperature.
