SELECTING PERFORMANCE

GREASE:
Ten Crucial Questions
Presented
4-13-2006
By
Don Oldiges

Ten Crucial Questions

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.

Lubricant producer recommendations

When manufacturers recommend lubricants for their products in terms of
specifications or required qualities rather than particular brand names,
lubricant producers should be consulted to obtain advice on products that
comply with the required specifications.

User selection
The user should follow the manufacturer's specification ensure that
applicable criteria are met regardless of who makes the lubricant selection.

Ten Crucial Questions

Demands on Grease Performance

Challenging Environments
Environmentally Friendly
Temperature Extremes
Heavy Loads
High Speeds
Long Life

Ten Crucial Questions

Performance Objectives of Grease

To remain in contact with moving surfaces and
provide lubrication even under the stress of
gravity, centrifugal action or pressure.
To retain its properties under use conditions at all
levels of shear and temperature.
While performing the above, the grease must still
be able to flow or be pumped where it is needed.

Ten Crucial Questions

1: Know When to Use Grease

Applications suitable for
performance grease.
Machinery that is idle for
long periods.
Moving parts that are
Sealed for Life
Surfaces that are exposed
to extreme conditions.
Extending the life of worn
components.

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.

Ten Crucial Questions

2: Know the Types of Grease

Grease is classified by penetration number and by
type of soap or other thickener.
Aluminum, conventional
Aluminum, complex
Calcium, conventional
Calcium, anhydrous
Calcium, complex

Lithium, conventional
Lithium, complex
Polyurea
Organo-clay
Silicone

Ten Crucial Questions

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

Ten Crucial Questions

Grease Compatibility Chart

All greases are not created equal, caution must be
exercised when replacing or refilling a grease.
Aluminum Complex

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

Ten Crucial Questions

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%

What Do Most People Use?

d
hy
n
aA

ro

us

1%

d
rate
d
y
Ca H

10%

Li Complex
15%

Li Conventional
53%

2004 Global Production per NLGI Survey

Ten Crucial Questions

3: Know your Classifications

Professional societies and organizations have established
classifications for oil and grease. The most widely
encountered are those of the following organizations:

SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers)

API (American Petroleum Institute)
AGMA (American Gear Manufacturers
Association),
ISO (International Standards Organization)
NLGI (National Lubricating Grease Institute).

Ten Crucial Questions

NLGI grease classification

NLGI
Number

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

Common Grease (Peanut Butter)

220 250

Semi-hard
Shortening)

175 205

Hard

130 160

Very Hard

85 - 115

Solid

(Applesauce)

(Solid
(Frozen Yogurt)
(Hard Butter)

(Brick Cheddar Cheese)

Ten Crucial Questions

4: Know the Typical Performance

Properties of Each type of Grease

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

Salt Water Resistance

350

Water Resistance

Aluminum, complex

Lubricity

175

Thermal Stability

Max Usable Temp F

Aluminum, conventional

Ten Crucial Questions

5: Know Any Special Requirements

Special Performance
Requirements
Federal Specs and
Standards
Mil Specs and
Standards
Food Grade
Specifications
ISO Standards
ASTM Specifications

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

Ten Crucial Questions

6: Know the Grease Characteristics

Required for the Application
Apparent Viscosity (non-Newtonian)
Bleeding, Migration, Oil Separation
Consistency, Penetration, NLGI Numbers
Corrosion, Rust and Water Resistance
Dropping Point
Evaporation
Oxidation Stability
Pumpability
Shear Stability
Temperature effects
Pressure Effects

Ten Crucial Questions

Typical Grease Tests

Test

ASTM
Test Description
Method

Cone Penetration

D-217

Depth a cone pushes into grease

Dropping Point

D-2265

Temperature where grease melts

Apparent Viscosity

D-1092

Thickness of grease

4 Ball Wear

D-2266

Apply load until balls weld

Evaporation

D-972

Weight loss from grease

Copper Corrosion

D-4048

Chemical reactivity with metal

Water Washout

D-1264

Removal of grease by water

Rust Resistance

D-1743

Protection of iron & steels

Oxidation Stability

D-942

Storage stability

Ten Crucial Questions

Common Test Equipment

Penetrometer

Grease Worker

Ten Crucial Questions

What is Penetration?
ASTM D-217

Penetration with respect to a

lubricating grease, is the depth
(in tenths of a millimeter) that
a standard cone penetrates a
sample of the grease under
prescribed conditions of
weight, time, and temperature.
Penetration is a measure of
consistency of a grease to
determine its plasticity.

Ten Crucial Questions

Grease Shear Stability

Motor-Matic Grease Worker Test
ASTM D-217-A

Shear or mechanical stability

of a grease is its ability to
withstand repeated working
with minimum change in its
structure or stability.
The shearing action in the test
apparatus simulates the
working of the grease in
service.
The consistency is measured
after 60 strokes and repeated
after 10,000 or more strokes.

Ten Crucial Questions

Four Ball EP Test

ASTM D-2783

The test is the determination of

the load-carrying capacity of a
lubricant in kilograms applied to
a system of four steel balls in the
form of a tetrahedron.
The results are used to evaluate
the EP characteristic of the
lubricant by a load scar curve and
weld point.
The procedure consists of a series
of 10-second runs made at preselected and successively higher
loads until the welding of the four
balls occurs.

Ten Crucial Questions

Simple Rotational Viscometer

("Brookfield type")
This device measures fluid viscosity
at fixed rotation speeds by driving a
measurement tool ("spindle"),
immersed in the test fluid, through a
calibrated torsion spring. Viscous
drag of the fluid against the spindle
causes the spring to deflect, and this
deflection is correlated with torque.
The calculated shear rate depends on
the rotation speed, the tool geometry,
and the size and shape of the sample
container. Conversion factors are
needed to calculate viscosity from the
measured torque, and are typically
pre-calibrated for specific tool and
container geometries.

Viscosity Grade Comparisons

Saybolt Viscosity
Universal Seconds @ 100F

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

Ten Crucial Questions

Ten Crucial Questions

7: Know how the Grease is Applied

Automatic lubricating systems
Pressure Injectors
Metering pump
Hand operated grease applicator
Cartridge Grease Gun
Grease Filler Pump
Brush

Ten Crucial Questions

Example of a Large Automatic Lube

Application System

Ten Crucial Questions

8: Know the Packaging Required &

Available

Small Containers

Cartridges

Aerosols

Pails
Drums or Totes

Ten Crucial Questions

9: Know the Marketing/Supply Channel

Where do I go to get Good grease?
Performance Grease

SUPPLIER
GREASE
MAKER

DISTRIBUTOR

PRIVATE
LABELER

CO-OP/
BUYING
GROUP

Ten Crucial Questions

10: Know the Life Cycle Fate

Renewable & Safe

Packaged
Grease

Distribution
Warehouse

Consumer

Performance
Grease
Disposal

Raw
Materials

Environmentally
Responsible

Ten Crucial Questions

QUESTIONS???

Ten Crucial Questions

Ca
S
tea
rat
e

Hy
Ca Exce
dro
Hy ss
12 xyl fr
dro
-H
om
xid
SA
e

Ten Crucial Questions

Anhydrous Calcium Grease

Ten Crucial Questions

SiO

n
Hy
dro
ca
rbo

arb
on

Hy
dro
c

Qu
ate

rna
ry
Am
ine

Bentonite Clay Grease

Ca
C

xyl
ate

arb
o

Ca
Ac
eta
t

Ca Exce
Hy ss
dro
xid
e
Ca
Hy
dro
xyl

Ten Crucial Questions

Calcium Complex Grease

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

Ten Crucial Questions

Lithium Complex Grease

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

Ten Crucial Questions

Lithium 12-Hydroxy Grease

arb
o
n

Alu
m
Ste inum
ara
te

Alu
mi
Tri num
ple
t

Hy
dro
c

Alu
m
Hy inum
dro
xyl

Ten Crucial Questions

Aluminum Complex Grease

Ten Crucial Questions

SiO

Hy
dro
c

arb
on

Silicone Grease

Ten Crucial Questions

Fluorosilicone Grease

Ten Crucial Questions

Hy
dro
c

arb
on

Am
ine

Polyurea Grease

Ten Crucial Questions

Fatty Acids for Grease

Ten Crucial Questions

Grease Reactions

Ten Crucial Questions

Trimer Reaction

Ten Crucial Questions

PAO 4

Ten Crucial Questions

PAO 40

Ten Crucial Questions

ExxonMobil Synthetic Oils