Grease is a thick, oily lubricant consisting of inedible lard, rendered fat from waste animal parts, or a petroleum-derived or synthetic oil containing a thickening agent.

Types of Grease

• White Grease: Made from inedible hog fat with a low content of free fatty acids.
• Yellow Grease: Made from darker parts of the hog and may include parts used to make white grease.
• Brown Grease: Contains beef and mutton fats as well as hog fats.
• Fleshing Grease: Fatty material trimmed from hides and pelts.
• Bone Grease, Hide Grease, and Garbage Grease: Named according to their origin.

In some factories, food offal is used along with animal carcasses, butcher-shop scraps, and garbage from restaurants to recover fats.

Greases of Mineral or Synthetic Origin

These consist of a thickening agent dispersed in a liquid lubricant, such as petroleum oil or a synthetic fluid. The thickening agent may be soap, an inorganic gel, or an organic substance. Additives inhibit oxidation and corrosion, prevent wear, and change viscosity.

Lubrication

• The fluid component is the more important lubricant for large clearances between parts.
• For small clearances, the molecular soap layers provide lubrication.

Synthetic Greases

• May consist of synthetic oils containing standard soaps or be a mixture of synthetic thickeners or bases in petroleum oils.
• Silicones are greases in which both the base and the oil are synthetic.
• Made in water-soluble and water-resistant forms.
• Usable over a wide temperature range.
• Do not soften natural or other rubbers, making them compatible with these materials.

Properties of Grease

• Amount and type of thickener
• Additives
• Solids (e.g., Moly, Graphite)
• Water washout and spray-off
• Mechanical stability
• Oil separation
• Storage life
• Oxidation resistance
• Rust/corrosion resistance
• Viscosity and type of base oil
• Bearing life (wheels, electric motors)
• Compatibility (with other greases and seals)
• Low-temperature torque

Types of Thickeners

• Clay (Organo Clay, e.g., Bentone)
• Lithium
• Lithium Complex
• Lithium/Calcium Mixed Complex
• Calcium Complex
• Aluminum Complex
• Others (Calcium, Sodium, Polyurea)

Types of Base Oils

• Castor Oils
• Mineral Oils (Min)
• Synthetic Oils (Syn) (Group 3 & 4, PAO & Ester)
• White Oils (Pharmaceutical Grade)

Download Specifications Sheet