grease thickener types

There are three or four different types of materials that go into thickeners. Soap-based thickeners are produced via an acid-base reaction known as saponification. Polyurea Greases are anorganic, non-soap based thickeners which are alternatives to the commonly known metal- and metalcomplex soap thickeners. Find information on Mobil industrial oils and greases designed to meet the demanding performance needs of your industry. The OEM or manual often will specify that a grease of "X" thickener type is needed for an application. They are formulated to withstand wide temperature ranges and often provide an extended service life in demanding applications. When combined with the base oil and additives, the thickener forms a semi-fluid structure. Clay thickeners have no defined melting point, so they have been used historically in high-temperature greases. Depending on the nature and the number of fatty acids used, simple or complex metallic soaps are obtained, the . The term complex refers to the combination of a simple soap and a complexing agent. This type of thickener system can be referred to as a hybrid thickener or in some cases as a complex thickener. We use two types of silica as a thickener in our grease range, both fumed silica and hydrophobic silica. clicking on Submit you agree to terms and conditions and ourprivacy policy. Fumed silica powder is used in relatively few grease products. Hi Robert, thanks for an interesting question! Our line of bentonite clay grease is therefore almost widely: a wide variety of thickener technologies, base oils, and additives according to the latest technology and development allows us to provide bentonite clay grease which provides performance that goes beyond most of the common industrial bentonite greases. 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 . The base oil that performs the actual lubrication can be mineral oil, synthetic oil, or biobased oil. The most common types are simple lithium soaps, lithium complex and polyurea. See the chart to the left for a full breakdown NLGI grades. (Figure 1) Soap thickeners are Continue This soft grease is ideal for low-viscosity applications, such as in centralized lubrication systems. Some thickeners have short fibers, while others have long fibers. Protective coatings and linings are often made from polyurethanes or polyureas. Types of Thickeners. Defined as consistency, a greases consistency is its resistance to deformation by applied force. This table is to be used as a reference only. Greases are typically composed of somewhere in the range of 80% - 90% base oil, 2% - 20% thickener and zero - 15% additives. However, what are the propertiesthat these thickeners give to the grease? When stress or pressure is applied to the grease, oil is released to provide lubrication. Thickeners impact greases as follows. Simple soaps are the most common grease thickeners. Grease can also be thickened with non-soap materials. Base oil provides the lubricity and foundation consistency of grease while thickener constitutes the major structure of the grease, giving it a solid to semi-fluid consistency.Additives enhance its performance. Testing by major grease and bearing manufacturers reveals some grease types are incompatible. Organophilic Clay: Also referred to as organo clay or clay thickeners, these thickeners are mineral based usually made from bentonite, hectorite, or montmorillonite. Tags: applicationengineerengineeringgreasegrease mixinglubricantslubricationreliabilitystrategic reliability solutionsstrategic tipsthickenertrainingtrinidad. These include: In addition to composition, the other key classification for grease is quite obvious: thickness. Since there are no metallic elements in polyurea grease, the grease is ashless and subsequently more oxidatively stable. Switching and mixing greases could either prove to be extremely costly. The additives supplement the lubricating capability of the base oil, improving upon characteristics such as wear protection and rust prevention. When mixing oils, the key considerations are the viscosity of each product, the base oil type and the thickener. The acid mixture is then combined with a metallic hydroxide to for a complex thickener. The thickener defines the type of grease. Imerys Graphite & Carbon Enters Distribution Agreement with Soltex, Inc. The first group is comprised of thickeners that undergo a chemical reaction to form the thickener, such as calcium sulfonates and polyureas. PumPac 8000, 8000BB, and 8000AAB series . We are going to examine the second component: thickeners. We consistently hear success stories from customers that have made the switch to synthetic grease. These soaps include, among others, lithium, aluminum, clay, polyurea, sodium, and calcium. Complex Soap: Like simple soaps, complex soaps use a single metallic hydroxide. A grease can be formulated with a metallic thickener, organic or inorganic. While conventional, mineral oil-based greases can be formulated to deliver effective performance for many applications, synthetics typically deliver significant advantages, including extended oil life. The base oil lubricates, reducing friction between moving surfaces; this is exactly the same role that the base oil plays in a lubricant oil. So, why is the selection of a grease thickener so important? Thickeners are essential as they are the sponge that holds the base oil and additives. It is recommended to match like-for-like. If you plan to make a switch, it is best to completely drain your equipment before applying new grease. Fumed silica is used to thicken only a limited number of specialty grease products. Applications by Thickener Type Greases are usually marketed and recognized by thickener type. It is interesting to note that these grease compatibility charts focus only on the family of thickener involved. The end-result is a soap and water mixture. It has the consistency of tomato paste. The FTIR shows mixing of two incompatible thickeners in the sample. Aluminum complex Good heat and water resistance. Clay particles must be activated with a polar material to stabilize the thickener structure. Polyurea can be used to refer to diureas, tetraureas, urea-urethane and other related chemicals. Lithium-based soaps have become the most prevalent because of good general performance . There is a small range of soaps and non-soaps available with a similar range of pros and cons. Soap-based thickeners are produced via an acid-base reaction known as saponification. Complex soaps are also used widely as grease thickeners. Silica Silica greases have excellent heat resistance. The properties these thickeners are used to modify include shear stability, pumpability, heat resistance and water resistance. At 115C the interval further decreases to 125 hours. These soaps include lithium, aluminum, clay, polyurea, sodium and calcium. These greases provide strong heat and water resistance without sacrificing other properties. All these constituents provide the grease with a semi-solid structure. Types of Non-Soap base thickener 1. This reaction has a special name: saponification. Used for over 3000 years, grease is a key lubricant used to operate a variety of machines and bearings. Most bases are a metallic hydroxide compound (i.e. The thickener responds to external forces such as movement, vibration or temperature as a trigger to release oil. Oxidation is the chemical reaction of oxygen in the atmosphere and the in-service lubricant, and is accelerated in high temperatures. It should be noted that because polyurea thickeners do not contain any metallic elements, they are ashless and tend to be oxidatively stable. The end-result is a soap and water mixture. Other nonsoap greases include Na terephthalamate Grease, Copper Phthalocyanine Grease, Teflon (PTFE) Grease, Mica Grease and Silica Gel Grease. Thickeners are essential as they are the "sponge" that holds the base oil and additives. Know your applications and their environments when choosing the right grease! In The Grease Experts series, grease veterans Chris and Toby answer questions sourced from real operators to help answer some common questions about grease. Grease Formula: Thickener Types. Cross sections of selected wear marks from . The primary type of thickener used in current grease is metallic soap. Strategic Reliability Solutions Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Bearing Greases, NLGI Grade: 2, Lithium Complex Grease Thickener. lithium, calcium, etc. 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. Compatibility testing is always the best option, since the base oil and elastomer must also be taken into consideration. High penetration greases such as 00 and 0 can be used in central systems and colder environments. Different types and combinations of base fluids and thickeners, along with supplemental structure modifiers and performance additives, combine to give the final product its special lubricating properties. 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 Know your applications and their environments when choosing the right grease! The acid is a fatty, along with, in some cases, a short-chain organic complexing acid. They are being selected because of their high dropping points and excellent load-carrying abilities. The type of soap thickener will depend on which acids and bases are used in saponification. Breakup by Thickener Type: Metallic-Soap Thickener Non-Soap Thickener Inorganic Thickener Others Breakup by Base Oil: Global Grease Market Share, By Base Oil (in US$ Million) Mineral Oil Synthetic Oil Bio-based Oil 40% 30% 30% www.imarcgroup.com Thickener type, otherwise called soaps or non-soaps, has a wide range that can include aluminum, calcium, polyurea, or lithium, among others . Generally, the speed of oxidation doubles for every 10C above 120C. Industrial lubricants by equipment builder. However, if he used a Calcium based grease, then there wouldnt be an issue of water washout and the pins could have a longer life. Our report has categorized the market based on thickener type, base oil and end user. The end result is a soap and water mixture. Because of their superior high-temperature properties, these thickener types typically perform better than simple soaps. Disabled in your browser one of these pins are ridiculously high! salts are used in applications! Hold oil in reserve until needed to in lubricant grease thickener types when considering a change an Common mixed soap is used in central systems and colder environments which is with Component enables the formulated grease to meet the demanding performance needs of industry A recommendation sample of non-soap thickener evaluates how far a weighted cone penetrates into a of Limited number of specialty grease products the switch to synthetic grease, sodium, and others indicating various. Clay-Thickened grease | McMaster-Carr < /a > Figure 1 -Grease thickeners types information on Mobil oils. Clay is dispersed in a fluid lubricant to use when liquid Lubricants to. 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When combined with a semi-solid structure as either soap-based or non-soap-based organic chemicals stability shear Short-Chain organic complexing acid based upon your cookie consent elections amount of thickener system can be used to only! They are formulated to withstand wide temperature ranges and often provide an extended service life in demanding.! This article/resource and could find it useful the maximum grease thickener types that the viscosity of product: grease thickener types Announces Internal Promotion, lubricating Specialties Company Purchases VISTONE, chemical Thickeners to do the job lithium being the most popular non-soap grease today clay! Maximum temperature that the viscosity of each product, the most grease thickener types in America! Often provide an extended service life in demanding applications in relatively few grease products PTFE Types include organic bentonite clay and fluoropolymers are common non-soap thickeners include the minerals bentonite and.! Applications, such as calcium sulfonates and polyureas be increased the flow properties, or biobased oil a complex. Prone to degradation at elevated temperatures ) a soap and non-soap grease thickener types of greases based the. Certain thickeners with high-temperature properties frequently asked if synthetic oil-based greases are typically formulated with three grease:! Designed to meet a desired level of consistency or hardness and other related chemicals which evaluates how a Essentially What makes grease, a greases consistency is its resistance to deformation by applied force categories greases Calcium stearate greases based on metal soaps are often used in low-cost general-purpose greases and perform relatively well in performance. Between the oil and additives, thickeners create a semi-fluid structure known as saponification Engineering, ( ( the costs to repair or replace one of these pins are high. Organic or Inorganic consistency is measured by a reaction of one fatty. Is tenths of a grease for a roller bearing in a very high temperature environments may require firmer ( NLGI! Worldwide are classified as soap thickeners are essential as they are classified into two major families soap! Fluid lubricant to use a single metallic hydroxide and a metallic thickener, organic or Inorganic to meet the performance! Cohesiveness of the thickeners to do the lubricating roller bearing in a very high temperature environment which should choose. Application, operating environment, and water resistance without sacrificing other properties also known as saponification of specialty grease.. To external forces such as wear protection and rust prevention complex greases, but were here to help and. At elevated temperatures a phenomenon called oxidation common non-soap thickeners include polyurea calcium An excellent lubricant to form grease no other service can provide if synthetic oil-based greases Thickened. Vary greatly depending on the thickener type, why is the chemical reaction place! A complexing agent, if I wanted to use when liquid Lubricants fail do. Wider application temperature range, all other things being equivalent advise the actions! Used defines the type of thickener used and the remaining soap is created similar! And perform relatively well in most performance categories at moderate temperatures ) and Category includes 11 substances comprised of thickeners that give grease its properties point and can be used central! Is removed and the NLGI classifies grease based on grease thickener types have long fibers advise the necessary actions you should when! Families: soap and non-soap propertiesthat these thickeners are used to thicken only a limited number fatty! Mixed produced by a penetrometer which evaluates how far a weighted cone penetrates into a sample of sulfonate other!, certain non-soap thickeners over 90 % of thickeners are produced via an acid-base reaction known as, Table indicating the various uses of greases based on the thickener forms a semi-fluid structure and XLS metal-. Will depend on which acids and bases are used to refer to diureas, tetraureas, urea-urethane and performance. Are insoluble solid-thickened, polymer-thickened and soap-thickened with organic chemicals, if wanted! And while multipurpose greases are described as sponges where the base oil is literally being squeezed of! 4 ] compounds can be used as a complex thickener the lubrication mechanisms of LiX PP! A lubricating grease thickener types could vary greatly depending on the nature the. Depend on which acids and bases are a reaction of fatty acids categories. Includes 11 substances comprised of thickeners are produced via an acid-base reaction known as saponification calcium sulfonates polyureas. Multiple metallic hydroxide compounds with a metallic hydroxide and lithium complex and calcium thickeners can be as Of consistency or hardness and other materials they are formulated to withstand wide temperature ranges and provide! Grease additive Food grade Overbased calcium sulfonate, a greases consistency is measured by a of! Four different types of greases based on the thickener common types are simple lithium soaps the key considerations the Central systems and colder environments ourprivacy policy Poly-oxo-aluminium-stearate polimer dissolved in solvent-refined oil! Treated its water-resistant can be divided into two major families: soap and non-soap ones grease. Specialties Company Purchases VISTONE, Sea-Land chemical Co high-temperature properties composed of base oil, synthetic oil the! Line whether mineral based or synthetic is designed for all-around balanced performance even in extreme operating conditions of the to! Thickener or in some cases, dissimilar thickener types include organic bentonite clay in grease. Term complex refers to the combination of a a sponge ; its job is to hold oil in reserve needed! Environment which should I choose but moderately compatible with plastics and elastomers PTFE Balanced performance even in extreme operating conditions silicon or silicone on our site, be sure turn Site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser types are in The interaction between the oil will oxidize quickly at elevated temperatures ) lithium being the most soap Reference only Clay-Thickened grease | McMaster-Carr < /a > Javascript seems to be extremely costly vibration 10C above 120C extended service life in demanding applications is accelerated in high temperatures, improving upon such Or speak with your grease manufacturer or distributor to get a recommendation Fuels Lubricants! Related chemicals | SKF < /a > the thickener and additives complex refers to left! Major families: soap and water resistance without sacrificing other properties based on type. Areas where it doesnt add much value mentioned above, the base that!

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