Offering excellent lubricity, shear stability, and thermal resistance, lithium complex thickeners provide superior high-temperature performance. It has the consistency of tomato paste. The focus in this article is on organic thickeners such as lithium stearate, sodium dodecylsulfate and diurea. Below, we'll discuss the three types of thickeners used in grease formulation - simple soap, complex soap, and non-soap thickeners. Grease Market by Base Oil (Mineral Oil, Synthetic Oil, Bio-based Oil), by Thickener Type (Metallic Soap, Non-Soap, Inorganic), by End-Use Industry (Power Generation, Automotive, Heavy Equipment, Food and Beverage, Chemical Manufacturing, Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2031 Report Overview Table Of Content Let me try to demystify grease a bit. Estimate the maximum temperature that the grease can withstand. NLGI 2 is about the consistency of peanut butter. Hi Robert, thanks for an interesting question! Polyurea Greases are anorganic, non-soap based thickeners which are alternatives to the commonly known metal- and metalcomplex soap thickeners. The acid mixture is then combined with a metallic hydroxide to for a complex thickener. Organophilic Clay: Also referred to as organo clay or clay thickeners, these thickeners are mineral based usually made from bentonite, hectorite, or montmorillonite. Different types of greases are typically formulated with three grease components: base oil, thickener and additives. There is a small range of soaps and non-soaps available with a similar range of pros and cons. This is true for lubricant oils as well as greases. Grease thickeners. and the proportions in which . I=Incompatible, C=Compatible, and B=Borderline. (The costs to repair or replace one of these pins are ridiculously high!) Sign up for a free trial today to see how MSLA can help your business. Features: Easy Handling. However, if he used a Calcium based grease, then there wouldn't be an issue of water washout and the pins could have a longer life. Different types of greases are typically formulated with three grease components: base oil, thickener and additives. The base oil lubricates, reducing friction between moving surfaces; this is exactly the same role that the base oil plays in a lubricant oil. Clay particles are then dispersed in a fluid lubricant to form grease. Greases are classified into two major families: soap and non-soap thickeners. Polyurea can be used to refer to diureas, tetraureas, urea-urethane and other related chemicals. Lithium 12-hydroxy is incompatible with aluminum complex and calcium complex thickeners, but moderately compatible with calcium sulfonate, a typical marine grease thickener. Each area of application may be different and while multipurpose greases are widely used there are some areas where it doesnt add much value. 2018 TheLubricantStore.com All Rights Reserved. Fumed silica is hydrophilic (water-loving) and has a thixotropic behaviour due to it's time dependent recovery of apparent viscosity after shear stress, also know as shear rate sensitivity. When the stress is released, the thickener and oil return to their semi-solid or solid state. Over 90% of greases worldwide are classified as soap thickeners. The FTIR shows mixing of two incompatible thickeners in the sample. Types of thickeners that are commonly used are simple and complex soaps, which are based on lithium, calcium, aluminium, sodium, and barium compounds. We keep speaking about each grease being different based on their thickener type. Grease thickeners are chemical compounds that are used as one of the key components in formulation of greases. These greases are premium niche products with very good resistance to chemicals, oxygen, and water. The lubricant film thickness behaviors of lithium (Li) thickener type greases and their base oil were investigated for the contact between a glass disk and a smooth/dented steel ball using an . Other: Polyurea and clay thickeners are the most used non-soap greases, but there are some other specialty thickeners that are used. Fumed silica powder is used in relatively few grease products. The thickener in a lubricating grease is the component that sets grease apart from fluid lubricants. Announces Internal Promotion, Lubricating Specialties Company Purchases VISTONE, Sea-Land Chemical Co. Each of these thickener types impacts grease performance differently, and understanding their general benefits and limitations is important to ensuring you are selecting the right grease. Fluoropolymer powders such as PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) can be used to thicken lubricating fluids to form grease. Im frequently asked if synthetic oil-based greases are really better than mineral oil-based greases. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. The most common soap, lithium soap, is produced. (Figure 1) Soap thickeners are Continue For example, a lithium complex thickener typically contains lithium 12-hydroxystearate (simple soap) and a salt of a shorter chain difunctional carboxylic acid, boric acid, or an aromatic acid (complexing agent). Silica Silica greases have excellent heat resistance. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Non-soap greases are thickened with clay, polyurea, calcium sulfonate and other materials. I agree to the Terms and Privacy*. The clay is dispersed in a lubricant to form a grease. Comparison of properties of grease due to thickener Soap Thickener O: Outstanding E: Excellent G: Good F: Fair P: Poor Non-Soap Thickener O: Outstanding E: Excellent G: Good F: Fair P: Poor Lithium-based soaps have become the most prevalent because of good general performance . It components are as follows: 70-90% Base Oil 1-10% Additives 5-20% Thickener / Soap The base oil and additive package heavily influence a grease's behavior. Use it in normal bearing applications. Additionally, these oils are less prone to degradation at elevated temperatures a phenomenon called oxidation. Compatibility testing is always the best option, since the base oil and elastomer must also be taken into consideration. Double-row angular contact, 5000 series . A grease consists of three components: a thickener, a base oil and additives. From extending regreasing intervals at a plant from weekly to quarterly, to extending the life of machine bearings, synthetic grease can improve industrial operations and help to cut costs for operators. Thickener type, otherwise called soaps or non-soaps, has a wide range that can include aluminum, calcium, polyurea, or lithium, among others . Based on the thickener type, greases are classified into soap and non-soap ones. Numerous types of grease thickeners are currently in use, each with its own pros and cons. A grease thickener impacts your grease's operating temperature, load, speed, and material compatibility. These greases are usually not suitable for general or multi-purpose use and are made with a combination of various compatible greases and oil additives. Click here to see our Greases. This component enables the formulated grease to meet a desired level of consistency or hardness and other performance requirements. This reaction has a special name: saponification. The water is removed and the remaining soap is used as a thickener for grease. A true grease consists of an oil and/or other fluid lubricant that is mixed with a thickener, typically a soap, to form a solid or semisolid. Industrial lubricants by equipment builder. Soap Greases. with 12 HSA and lithium hydroxide. Here, we say the lubricant grease thickener is Bentonite organoclay. Do not overgrease a system. Despite a decline in overall volume, mineral oils contribute the lion's share of base fluids for grease production (86.6%) followed by synthetic (7.42%), semi-synthetic (5.12%) and emerging bio-based fluids (0.87%). However, there are three components to any formulated grease: the base oil, the additives and the thickener. Grease Formula: Thickener Types. There are many types of compounds that can be used as thickeners. Grease performance is often dictated by the type of thickener present, with simple lithium soaps present in the more affordable, general use greases that hold their value in a wide spectrum of applications as well as a moderate upper operating temperature limit of 250F. lithium, calcium, etc. There are many industries and applications where high-quality grease base fluids and additives are required, including automotive, industrial, marine, mining and agriculture. Silica is not to be confused with silicon or silicone. Since there are no metallic elements in polyurea grease, the grease is ashless and subsequently more oxidatively stable. Usually has much better high temperature properties. There are simple greases and complex greases, depending on the types of fatty acids used. Different types of greases are typically formulated with three grease components: base oil, thickener and additives. The type of soap thickener will depend on which acids and bases are used in saponification. See the chart to the left for a full breakdown NLGI grades. Thickener Type The thickener of the grease performs an important jobholding the lubricant in place. Other nonsoap greases include Na terephthalamate Grease, Copper Phthalocyanine Grease, Teflon (PTFE) Grease, Mica Grease and Silica Gel Grease. ). In addition, certain non-soap thickeners, such as those based on clay . The base oil lubricates, reducing friction between moving surfaces; this is exactly the same role that the base oil plays in a lubricant oil. KOMAD 8400 is a lubricating grease thickener, Poly-oxo-aluminium-stearate polimer dissolved in solvent-refined mineral oil fraction. The ratios of the ingredients will determine the characteristics of the thickener. The upper operating temperature of silica grease is determined by the base oil with which it is combined. The oil is literally being squeezed out of the thickener . These thickeners can be broken into three groups: Simple A simple soap resulting from the reaction of a single acid, usually 12 HSA and a metallic hydroxide, usually lithium, aluminum, calcium or sodium. We are going to examine the second component: thickeners. Function: Viscosity Modifier, Thickener. These minerals are purified to remove any non-clay material, ground to the desired particle size distribution, and then chemically treated to make the particles organophilic (more compatible with organic chemicals). MSLA collects crucial information vital in assessing the health of your operation including, but not limited to: Designed to help save time and money, MSLA helps operators manage their grease analysis faster in fact, 66 percent faster than paper-based alternativesmaking it one of the top choices on the market. However, the mixed characteristic is derived from mixing multiple metallic hydroxide compounds with a fatty acid. Tags: applicationengineerengineeringgreasegrease mixinglubricantslubricationreliabilitystrategic reliability solutionsstrategic tipsthickenertrainingtrinidad. These thickener types have an advantage over simple soap because of better high-temperature properties. 2022 Twin Specialties Corp. All Rights Reserved. High penetration greases such as 00 and 0 can be used in central systems and colder environments. Firstly, we have to define what a grease thickener is. Therefore, when choosing a grease to lubricate at elevated temperatures, consider its oxidation resistance, base oil viscosity (for conventional greases), and thickener type used. Switching and mixing greases could either prove to be extremely costly. The interaction between the oil and thickener system determines the flow properties, or rheology, of the grease [4]. Fumed silica is used to thicken only a limited number of specialty grease products. Soap-based thickeners are produced via an acid-base reaction known as saponification. All website features may not be available based upon your cookie consent elections. The aim of the present paper is to unravel the lubrication mechanisms of LiX and PP greases in fretting. More complex thickeners, as well as lithium, polyurea, silica, calcium, are short fibered thickeners. The thickener defines the type of grease. Types of Non-Soap base thickener 1. Typically, grease is composed of the following: Lubricating base oils 50 - 95% Thickeners 5 - 40% Additives 0 - 20%. This type of thickener system can be referred to as a hybrid thickener or in some cases as a complex thickener. Simple soaps. Thus, simple soap is an acid-base reaction product. Every thickener gives the grease different characteristic properties and is used according to its advantages. Single-row angular contact, split . Some customers think grease selection can be complicated and confusing, but it doesnt have to be. All these constituents provide the grease with a semi-solid structure. Thickeners are essential as they are the "sponge" that holds the base oil and additives. Self-aligning ball bearings . Common non-soap thickeners include polyurea, organophilic clay, fumed silica, fluoropolymers, and others. Above is a table indicating the various uses of greases based on the thickener types. Proper viscosity is critical for the thickener to release oil into the application, as its the oil in grease that does the lubrication, not the thickener or additives. The water is removed and the remaining soap is used as a thickener for grease. DOI: 10.2474/TROL.12.262 Corpus ID: 139205651; Influence of Li Grease Thickener Types on Film Thicknesses Formed between Smooth and Dented Surfaces @article{Sakai2017InfluenceOL, title={Influence of Li Grease Thickener Types on Film Thicknesses Formed between Smooth and Dented Surfaces}, author={Kazumi Sakai and David Ko{\vs}{\'a}l and Yuji Shitara and Motohiro Kaneta and Ivan Kupka and . Clay, Polyurea and Calcium Sulfonate Good water and heat resistance. Know your applications and their environments when choosing the right grease! These include: In addition to composition, the other key classification for grease is quite obvious: thickness. 2. The following grease properties are directly related to the type of thickener: Amount determines consistency Shear stability Oxidation resistance Water resistance Dropping point Compatibility Oil separation Cost Imerys Graphite & Carbon Enters Distribution Agreement with Soltex, Inc. The primary type of thickener used in current grease is metallic soap. We have already discussed grease properties and why grease is an alternative to oil. Soap thickeners are the product of the reaction between a metallic hydroxide and a fatty acid coming from vegetable or animal oils. Soap greases are described as sponges where the base oil is entrapped in the thickener network that slowly releases in use, providing lubrication. Some common compounds used are: Simple Soap: This results from the reaction of one fatty acid and a metallic hydroxide. The properties these thickeners are used to modify include shear stability, pumpability, heat resistance and water resistance. Announces Expansion of Team with New Hires in Sales Division, Azelis Americas Announces Expanded Lubricant and Metalworking Distribution Partnership between BASF and Monson, Asian Lubricant Industry Group Announces New Council, We are pleased to introduce Siddharth Grease & Lubes (INDIA) and Trinity Lubes & Greases FZC (UAE), ALMU Base Oils Webinar to Address Market Uncertainty, Assist Lube Blenders with Long-term Planning, STLE Elects Paul Hetherington from Petro-Canada Lubricants as 2020-2021 President, F+L Webcast: New Fuels & Lubricant Industry Podcast Examines ILSAC GF-6A, GF-6B and API SP First Licensing, SEA-LAND CHEMICAL COMPANY AND LOCKHART CHEMICAL COMPANY ANNOUNCE DISTRIBUTION PARTNERSHIP EXPANSION, Sea-Land Chemical Company Announces Promotion of Matthew Mapus to Vice President of Marketing, Emery Oleochemicals LLC Welcomes New Area Business Manager to Support its Bio-Lubricants Business, Zschimmer & Schwarz adds synthetic esters to European Ecolabel LuSC-list, SEA-LAND CHEMICAL COMPANY ANNOUNCES ADDITION OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER AND SEVERAL PROMOTIONS, ARG names Gisela Miller Director of Sales, Dr. Raj Shah inducted as a Fellow into the Institute of Measurement and Control, UK, NLGI Pursues Future Grease Specifications, Let the Games Begin: New trends in industrial grease lubrication - A brief summary of ELGI s Olympic Performance Meeting in Athens, Covenant Engineering Services LLC has Moved, AXEL Christiernsson Group (AXEL) wins 2019 Swedens Best Managed Companies Award, LSC signs letter of intent with Amalie Oil Co. for the sale of its US business, Dr. Raj Shah honored by the Royal Society of Chemistry and the Energy Institute, It is with the deepest regret that we announce the untimely death of our dear friend, Mr. Sid Stone, Zschimmer & Schwarz Announces Opening of Esterification Plant in Ivey, GA, PCAS and All NOVACAP Subsidiaries Unify to Become SEQENS, ACME-HARDESTY WELCOMES JOHN RASTOKA AS REGIONAL SALES MANAGER FOR THE WESTERN REGION. 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