Lubricating Grease

Dr. Luis Bastardo-Zambrano

Lubricating grease Definition
A grease is a lubricant which has been thickened in order that it remains in
contact with the moving surfaces and not leak out under gravity or centrifugal
action, or be squeezed out under pressure.; Vold & Vold

A solid to semi-solid product of a thickening agent in a liquid lubricant; ASTM

D288

Sticky Oily Stuff!

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Why use grease instead of oil?
Grease stays whereas oil would simply flow away!

High load carrying capacity

Good resistance against water and emulsions

Prevents entrance of corrosive contaminants and foreign materials

Longer service intervals; only choice in sealed-for-life equipment

Holds solids (graphite, molybdenum disulphide , ..) in suspension

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Thickener
Can be defined as a reservoir for the base oil (Sponge Theory). However, the
nature for the thickener is essential to the properties of the final product.

Some of the properties that can be attributed to the thickener are:

Dropping point
Operating temperature
Shear stability
Friction coefficient
Film thickness
Load carrying capacity

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Consistency of lubricating grease
Consistency = Rigidity = resistance to
deformation by an applied force

Penetration is the depth, in tenth of mm,

to which a cone of a given weight sinks
into the grease for 5 seconds at 25C
(77F)

The measurements are done after

working the grease for 60 strokes in a
standard grease worker

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Consistency of lubricating grease
NLGI grade Penetration range, after 60 strokes, (mm-1) Grade description

000 445 475 semi-fluid

00 400 430 semi-fluid

0 355 385 very soft

1 310 340 very soft

2 265 295 soft

3 220 250 almost solid

4 175 205 hard

5 130 160 very hard

6 85 115 soap-like

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Composition of multipurpose grease

Base oil (85%)

Cooling oil Adjusting oil

Cooking oil

Multi-Purpose
Grease; NLGI 2

Thickener (10%) Additives (5%)

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Thickeners Soap based
A chemical reaction between a fatty acid and an alkali (metal hydroxide)

Typical thickeners
Sodium soap
Calcium soap
Lithium soap
Aluminium soap
Anhydrous calcium soap

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 Calcium
Al- Barium Calcium Clay / Lithium
Grease type Calcium Lithium Polyurea Sodium sulfonate
complex complex complex Bentonite complex
complex

Al-
X NC NC NC NC B B B B NC
complex

Barium
NC X NC NC NC NC NC NC NC NC
complex

Calcium NC NC X C NC C C C NC B

Calcium
NC NC C X NC B B B NC B
complex

Clay /
NC NC NC NC X NC NC NC NC NC
Bentonite

Lithium B NC C B NC X C B B B

Lithium
B NC C B NC C X B B B
complex

Polyurea B NC C B NC B B X NC NC

Sodium NC NC NC NC NC B B NC X NC
Calcium
sulfonate NC NC NC NC NC B B NC NC X
complex

B = Borderline; C = Compatible; NC = not compatible

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Additives for greases
Extreme pressure (EP): to protect heavily
loaded and sliding metal surfaces from
welding.

Anti-Wear (AW): to protect from metal to

metal abrasion under abnormal loading.

Corrosion inhibitors: to protect the metal

surface against chemical attack by water or
other contaminants.

Oxidation inhibitors: to protect the lubricant

from chemical reaction with oxygen.

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Base fluids in greases
Base fluids from Group I to V can be thickened to lubricating greases. However,
key parameters such as applications, legislations, price and skills of the
manufacturer are among the main driving forces.

Typical base fluids for greases:

Mineral oils (Naphthenic & Paraffinic)
Polyalfaolefins
Vegetable oils
Esters
Alkylated naphthalenes
..

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Use of paraffinic oils in greases

Advantages
Low volatility
High flash point relative to naphthenic oils
High viscosity index relative to naphthenic oils

Drawbacks
Poor seal swell
Poor low temperature properties relative to naphthenic oils
Poor additive solubility relative to naphthenic oils

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Use of naphthenic oils in greases

Advantages
Low thickener consumption
Very good texture
Very good low temperature properties
Excellent solvency power
Good elastomer compatibility
Good affinity to the thickener system

Drawbacks
Low viscosity index relative to paraffinic oil
Lower flash point relative to paraffinic oil

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Naphthenic based greases Thickener yield
Nominal increase productivity for NSP
relative to paraffinic SN 500 (Li- based
NLGI grade 2 greases):
For SN 500:
100g grease/12 g thickener= 8.33
g Paraffinic grease/g thickener
For T 110:
100g grease/7.2 g thickener =
13.89g NSP grease/g thickener
Subsequently: 13.89/8.33= 1.67
times more grease can be made by
using T 110 instead of SN 500

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Use of Naphthenic/Paraffinic blends in greases
By selecting the right base oil combination one can improve other properties
beyond the yield:

Temperature range

Better oxidation stability

Water resistance

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Manufacturing Process

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Manufacturing process of Li-based grease

Fatty acid LiOH+H2O

H2O

Li-OH
Base oil Cooking Kettle

T
(Cooking oil)
Oil + Fatty acid Additives

Base oil
Time
Cooling kettle Additives
(Cooling oil/ (mixing vessel)
Adjusting oil)
Homogeniser

De-aeration Filtration Finished product

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Typical properties in a PDS
Penetration number

Dropping Point

Welding Point

Type of base fluid

Viscosity of the base fluid

Degree of bleeding (oil separation)

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What do they really tell you?
Penetration number Consistency after 60 strokes

Dropping Point softening point of the grease

Welding Point a load at which 4 balls are welded together

Type of base fluid ?

Viscosity of the base fluid ?

Degree of bleeding (oil separation) ?

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Important properties of grease
Lubrication ability
Shear stability
Thermal stability
Water resistance
Operating temperature
Pumpability
Corrosion inhibiting properties
Load carrying capacity
Wear resistance
Service life
Environmental impact

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Naphthenic blends in greases

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 Use of Naphthenic/Paraffinic blends in greases
Naphthenic and Naphthenic/Group II paraffinic base oil blends
IR
Aniline Sulphur Pour Viscosity
Crude oil Aromatic
Oil Production method point content point at 40C VI
type content
(C) (wt %) (C) (cSt)
(%)
ASTM ASTM ASTM ASTM ASTM
D 611 D 2622 D 97 D 445 D 2270
T 110 Naphthenic Hydrotreated 15 86 0.06 -30 109 -5
NS 100 Naphthenic Severely hydrotreated 10 95 <0.01 -33 96 35
HP 12 Paraffinic Hydrotreated/Hydrocracked 1 124 <0.0025 -15 110 97
SR 130 Naphthenic Solvent refined 7 95 0.9 -30 137 30

Paraffinic/
E Hydrotreated/Hydrocracked 15 98 0.06 -33 140 46
Naphthenic

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Grease production: NLGI Grade 2
Open kettle pilot plant (10Kg capacity)
Lithium hydroxide and 12-hydroxystearate thickener system
Cooked to a maximum temperature of 205C for 10min
Base oil mixture used for cooking and cooling
Homogenisation by a dispersion unit
No additives included in the formulation

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Use of Naphthenic/Paraffinic blends in greases
Greases based on Naphthenic and Naphthenic/Group II paraffinic base oil blends
Viscosity IR
Thickener
of base Penetration 100,000str Dropping Aromatic
Oil content
oil at 40C (mm-1) penetration (mm-1 )* point (C ) content
(wt%)
(cSt) (%)
ASTM ASTM ASTM
Method - IP 396 -
D 445 D 217 D 217

T 110 109 287 7.18 313 (26) 199 15

NS 100 96 278 8.53 296 (18) 201 10

HP 12 110 284 10.16 261 (-23) 200 1

SR 130 137 278 8.50 295 (17) 199 7

E 140 285 6.54 301 (16) 198 15

* the number between parenthesis is the difference between the 100000 and 60 strokes penetration.

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Low temperature properties

Standard flow pressure test DIN 51805

Conical nozzle filled with greases
Temperature progressively lowered
For each temperature the pressure applied to make
the grease flow out of the nozzle is recorded (flow
pressure)

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Flow pressure Naphthenic based
Flow pressure measurements at -35C

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Rheological measurements Naphthenic based

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Tribology measurements
A Mini Traction Machine (MTM) was used to measure Stribeck curves and
Electrical Contact resistance (ECR) between the disc and the ball.
AISI 52100 steel/steel contact between disc and ball
Load of 20N
Sliding Rolling Ratio (SRR) of 80%
Results reported as average mean of 5 curves
Attachment to ensure grease stays in the contact

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Stribeck curve of greases at 110C

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Summary
In grease production:

The use of naphthenic oils in grease production result in higher yields (lower
soap consumption), compared to if paraffinic Group II are used

Among naphthenic oils is those with lower refining degree (lower aniline
point, higher aromatic content) the ones presenting higher yields (lower
soap consumption

By blending naphthenic oil in a paraffinic Group II oil, it is possible to

achieve the same yields as for pure naphthenic base oils

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Summary
In grease properties:

The greases based on the oils giving high yield (low thickener content)
have:
Better flowability at low temperatures
Lower storage modulus or less resistance to flow at all temperature study

By blending a naphthenic oil with a paraffinic Group II oil one obtains a

grease that has a naphthenic behaviour at low temperatures and a
paraffinic one (relatively low friction) at high temperatures

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Residue based heavy naphthenic blends

Test
Method BS200+SN500 BBT 28+SN500
(ASTM)

Viscosity, 40C, mm2/s D 445 235 370 505 235 370 505

Viscosity,100C, mm2/s D 445 17.9 24.6 30.4 16.2 20.8 24.8

Viscosity Index D 2270 81 86 88 60 56 54

Flash Point, PM C D 93 229 239 247 223 223 223

Pour point C D 97 -12 -12 -12 -24 -24 -15
Aniline Point C D 611 105 110 110 94 93 92

Cu-Corrosion, rating D 130 1a 1b 1b 1a 1a 1a

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 Heavy naphthenic blends Greases

Test
Method BS200+SN500 BBT 28+SN500
(ASTM)
Viscosity of base oil, 40C,
mm2/s
D 445 235 370 505 235 370 505

Penetration, 60str (mm-1) D 217 276 268 272 277 268 274

Thickener content (wt %) 6.6 6.6 5.6 5.1 4.8 5.0

296 291 294 275 278 277
100000str penetration (mm-1)* D 217
(20) (23) (22) (-2) (10) (3)
Dropping point IP 396 208 206 208 202 204 199

Cu-Corrosion, rating DIN 51811 2c 1b 1a 1a 1a 1a

* the number between parenthesis is the difference between the 100000 and 60 strokes penetration.

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Heavy naphthenic greases Load carrying capacity
Four ball test analyses (ASTM D 2666)
Load: 140Kg
Running time: 60s
Speed: 1440rpm

Test
Method BS200+SN500 BBT 28+SN500
(ASTM)
Viscosity of base oil, 40C,
mm2/s
D 445 235 370 505 235 370 505

Wear scar (mm) D 2666 2.30 2.71 2.77 2.73 2.70 2.67

BBT 28 based greases show equal load carrying capability despite lower
thickener content

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 Heavy naphthenic greases Water resistance
Water wash out :
79C/60min
Water Spray Off:
38C/276kPa

Test
Method BS200+SN500 BBT 28+SN500
(ASTM)
Viscosity of base oil, 40C,
mm2/s
D 445 235 370 505 235 370 505

Water wash out (wt%) D 41264 1.37 1.61 2.00 2.73 1.38 2.12

Water spray off D 4049 55.6 53.8 31.2 43.8 N/A 18.8
Equal or better performance on the BBT 28 based grease

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Summary Heavy Naphthenic greases
The greases made by using BBT 28:
Lower thickener content (better yield)
Better mechanical stability despite less thickener
Equal load carrying capacity
Better low temperature properties
Equal water wash out and better water spray off
Comparable copper corrosion results

Recommended for high load, low speed applications

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Nybase vs. Group I Paraffinic in greases

Group I grease Nybase grease

Soap content - +++
Mechanical stability +++ +++
Elastomer compatibility ++ +++
Oxidation stability ++ +++
Flow pressure at -20C - +++
Flow pressure at -35C - +++
Cu corrosion +++ +++
Wear scar (4ball test) ++ ++
Long term availability --- +++

- Poor + Good ++Very good +++Excellent

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Nynas Technology centre in Nynshamn
Grease pilot plant
Penetrometer
Drop point
Rheometer
PDSC
FTIR
Flow pressure
DSC
etc

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www.nynas.com/Base-oils

www.linkedin.com/company/nynas-
base-oils

Naphthenic Magazine

productfinder.nynas.com

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 Nynas Group Head Office
P.O. Box 10700
SE-121 29 Stockholm
Sweden

Tel. +46-8-602 12 00
Fax +46-8-91 34 27

info@nynas.com

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