What is Grease?

Greases are lubricants that provide specific performance properties where lower viscosity oils simply do not work.

Greases consist of three basic types of ingredients, a high-quality base oil, a thickener system and various performance-improving additives.

These versatile lubricants have slightly different compositions, but each lubricant has a similar breakdown of ingredients: 80% to 90% base oil, 10% to 20% thickener and 3% to 5% additive.

Greases are ideal solutions for industrial applications where low viscosity fluids do not provide adequate protection or durability in situ.

Simply put, the lubricant essentially acts like a sponge, the thickener system holds the lubricating oil in place and releases fluid under pressure to prevent wear and damage to the metal surface.

Base oils

Base oil is the liquid component of every lubricant and is a typical lubricating oil - it can be mineral oil, silicone oil, synthetic oil or any liquid with lubricating properties. and viscosity level.

Thickeners

The main thickeners used in the production of lubricants are lithium, aluminum, calcium, bentonite and polyurea, available separately or in various configurations.

Lubricant additives

Refining additives give or modify the properties of lubricants. These are mainly: corrosion and oxidation inhibitors, depressants regulating the pour point, solid lubricants or friction reducing agents: molybdenum disulfide, graphite and dyes.

What are lubricants used for:

• They prevent surface wear
• They reduce metal friction - anti-seize pastes
• They act as a sealant - sealing silicone mixtures
• Protect against rust and corrosion - coatings
• They reduce noise and vibration

How to choose the right lubricant?

There are many different industrial greases, semi-fluid, lithium-containing, synthetic or mineral oil-based.

For an ordinary person, choosing a lubricant can be troublesome - where to start?

There are four main factors that help narrow down the choice of suitable greases:

1. Load
2. Environment
3. Temperature
4. Speed

NLGI grease consistency

The NLGI rating expresses a measure of the relative hardness in a lubricant. It is the plastic resistance when a force is applied to deform it.

In the case of lubricants, it is the hardness or softness that allows the assessment of flow and dosage properties. It is assessed according to the classification and parameters of the National Lubricating Grease Institute (USA).

NLGI Classes 000 to 1

They are used in low viscosity applications in Central Lubrication systems requiring good pumpability, or gears requiring a semi-fluid solution.

NLGI 2 classes

This is the most common class of greases, including those for rolling bearings.

NLGI Class 3 and 4

Thicker consistency used for valves and sealing connections.

NLGI Class 5 and 6

These are solid lubricants offered in the form of briquettes