GREASE:
Ten Crucial Questions
Presented
4-13-2006
By
Don Oldiges
Principles of Selection
Manufacturer recommendations
Manufacturers usually provide a list of lubricants that meet the operating
requirements for their equipment. (note that the equipment manufacturer's
recommendation should not necessarily be considered the best selection.
User selection
The user should follow the manufacturer's specification ensure that
applicable criteria are met regardless of who makes the lubricant selection.
Functional Properties
Sealant to minimize
leakage
Sealant to minimize
contamination
Rigidity holds it in place
where its needed
Holds finely ground solid
lubricants like moly or
teflon.
Lithium, conventional
Lithium, complex
Polyurea
Organo-clay
Silicone
What is Grease?
Grease
Additive
Buyer
Antioxidant
Antiwear
Antirust
Anticorrosion
Extreme pressure
VI Improver
Tackifier
Pour Point Depressant
Solid Boundary Lubricants
Dye
Thickener
Seller
Soap
Lithium, Sodium,
Barium, Calcium,
Aluminum
Non-Soap (inorganic)
Clay, Graphite, Silica
Carbon Black
Non-Soap (organic)
Polyurea, PTFE, Wax
Fluid
Seller Lubricant
Petroleum Oils
Polyalpha Olefins (PAO)
Polybutenes
Esters
Polyglycols
Polyethers
Silicones
PFPE
Barium
Calcium
Calcium
12-Hydroxy
Calcium Complex
Clay
Lithium
Lithium
12-Hydroxy
Lithium Complex
Polyurea
Aluminum Complex
Barium
Calcium
Calcium 12-Hydroxy
Calcium Complex
Clay
Lithium
Lithium 12-Hydroxy
I
C
C
C
I
C =CUsually compatible.
B =BBorderlineI compatibility
(probably
incompatible).
I
I
C
I
I = Incompatible
Lithium Complex
Polyurea
o n ve
ntion
al
0
%
Ca
C
Ca omple
x 2
Su
%
lfo
na
te
1%
Al C
Al Complex
p 2%
s
oap
3%
lS
eta
r M 1%
Al l O
th e r
s 2%
ay
5%
Cl
N a S oa
e
Oth
ea
ur
an
ly
Po
O
rg
5%
d
hy
n
aA
ro
us
1%
d
rate
d
y
Ca H
10%
Li Complex
15%
Li Conventional
53%
ASTM Worked
Penetration
Consistency
000
445 - 475
Semi-fluid
(Ketchup)
00
400 - 430
Semi-fluid
355 385
Very soft
(Deli Mustard)
310 340
Soft
(Tomato Paste)
265 295
220 250
Semi-hard
Shortening)
175 205
Hard
130 160
Very Hard
85 - 115
Solid
(Applesauce)
(Solid
(Frozen Yogurt)
(Hard Butter)
350
Lithium, conventional
275
Lithium, complex
350
Polyurea
350
Organo-clay
350
Sodium
350
Excellent
Good
Fair
Poor
Oil Separation
Calcium, complex
Pumpability
230
Rust Protection
Calcium, anhydrous
Oxidation Stability
200
Shear Stability
Calcium, conventional
350
Water Resistance
Aluminum, complex
Lubricity
175
Thermal Stability
Aluminum, conventional
EXAMPLES
MIL-G-3545
High Temperature Grease
MIL-G-4343B
Grease, Pneumatic System
MIL-G-7711
General EXAMPLES
Purpose EP Grease
Category
- H1
MIL-G-18458
Lubricants
General
Wire Rope- Grease
Incidental
Contact
MIL-G-21164C
Category
- H2
Grease,
Moly Disulfide
Lubricants
- General No
MIL-G-25760
Contact
Synthetic
Grease
Category
- H3
MIL-G-46886
SolubleGrease
Oils
Silicone
ASTM
Test Description
Method
Cone Penetration
D-217
Dropping Point
D-2265
Apparent Viscosity
D-1092
Thickness of grease
4 Ball Wear
D-2266
Evaporation
D-972
Copper Corrosion
D-4048
Water Washout
D-1264
Rust Resistance
D-1743
Oxidation Stability
D-942
Storage stability
Grease Worker
What is Penetration?
ASTM D-217
Kinematic Viscosity
cSt @ 40C
2,000
10,000
1,000
5,000
500
3,000
2,000
300
200
1,000
100
500
50
300
200
30
20
100
10
60
ISO/ASTM
Viscosity
AGMA
Grades
SAE
Crank Case Oils
SAE
Gear Oil
Small Containers
Cartridges
Aerosols
Pails
Drums or Totes
SUPPLIER
GREASE
MAKER
DISTRIBUTOR
PRIVATE
LABELER
CO-OP/
BUYING
GROUP
Packaged
Grease
Distribution
Warehouse
Consumer
Performance
Grease
Disposal
Raw
Materials
Environmentally
Responsible
QUESTIONS???
Ca
S
tea
rat
e
Hy
Ca Exce
dro
Hy ss
12 xyl fr
dro
-H
om
xid
SA
e
SiO
n
Hy
dro
ca
rbo
arb
on
Hy
dro
c
Qu
ate
rna
ry
Am
ine
Ca
C
xyl
ate
arb
o
Ca
Ac
eta
t
Ca Exce
Hy ss
dro
xid
e
Ca
Hy
dro
xyl
Lit
h
Do ium
ub
le t
Ke
tos
tea
rat
e
Hy
dro
Ex
L
x
i H cess
12 yl fr
yd
-H
o
rox
SA m
id e
Hy
dro
ca
rbo
n
Do
ub
Hy
let
dro
ca
rbo
n
Lit
hiu
m
Hy
dro
xyl
1
fr
2
Hy
dro -HSA om
ca
rbo
n
Ke
to
ste
ara
te
E
Li xce
Hy ss
dro
xid
e
arb
o
n
Alu
m
Ste inum
ara
te
Alu
mi
Tri num
ple
t
Hy
dro
c
Alu
m
Hy inum
dro
xyl
SiO
Hy
dro
c
arb
on
Silicone Grease
Fluorosilicone Grease
Hy
dro
c
arb
on
Am
ine
Polyurea Grease
Grease Reactions
Trimer Reaction
PAO 4
PAO 40