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When you start to use a new grease in an application, it is important to know whether the new and the old grease are compatible. This depends on whether the thickener and/or the base oil can mix with each other. A number of things can happen when two different greases are mixed: Nothing, i.e. the two greases are miscible The grease mix hardens, which can be devastating in, say, a central lubrication system The grease mix softens. The soap structure is broken down and the greases are not miscible. This can cause leakage and bearing failure We can help with miscibility tests ahead of product changes to avoid problems in advance. Feel free to contact us if you need help. Thickeners - miscibility Thickener Li LiX Ca CaH CaX CaSX Clay ALX BaX PU Na NW Lithium (Li) + o + - + o - o o - + Lithium complex (LiX) + + + + + - + o - o + Water-stabilised calcium (Ca) o + + - + o - o o o + Water-free calcium (CaH) + + + o o + + o - - + Calcium complex (CaX) - + - o + o o - + o + Calcium sulfonate complex (CaSX) + + + o + - - o + - + Clay o - o + o - - o o o + Aluminium complex (AlX) - + - + o - - + o - + Barium complex (BaX) o o o o - o o + o + + Polyurea (PU) o - o - o + o o o o + Sodium (Na) - o o - o - o - + o + NOVAWAY Technology (NW) + + + + + + + + + + + + = Compatible | o = Miscibility test required | - = Not compatible The above table is based on the type of thickeners only. Please note that different types of additive may affect miscibility.

The analysis engine is divided into gasoline engine and diesel engine according to the type of engine. The engine oil is also divided into gasoline engine oil and diesel engine oil. The quality classification of engine oil is expressed by API S followed by an English letter and API C followed by an English letter. Gasoline engine oil and diesel engine oil, the lower the alphabetical order of the heel, the higher the level. If the API SH level is higher than the API SG level, it is necessary to determine whether to use gasoline engine oil or diesel engine oil when selecting engine oil. If the API SH/CD is indicated on the package of the engine oil, it means that the oil is used as the gasoline engine oil level to reach SH, and as the diesel engine oil, the level is up to CD. At present, the API level is backward compatible, and the API SL quality level oil can be used for engines that require API SH oil. If possible, use a higher level of engine oil as it provides better protection for the engine. In general, the higher the quality level of the engine oil, the more expensive the price. But you can't talk about it. Select engine oil to determine the appropriate quality level or higher according to the manufacturer's instructions. The choice of engine oil also takes into account the seasonal changes. Because the viscosity of the oil changes with temperature, the viscosity becomes thicker in winter and the viscosity becomes lower in summer. Therefore, in very hot areas, try to choose oil with a slightly higher viscosity. In the cold season, thinner oil can be used. Frequently overloaded or older vehicles should choose a higher viscosity lubricant to avoid excessive pressure due to low viscosity of the lubricant, causing unnecessary failure. Available in 50 or 20W/50 oil. In addition, always pay attention to the engine water temperature and oil pressure. If there is any abnormality, stop immediately to find the cause, and then continue driving after troubleshooting. In addition, the road condition has little effect on the choice of engine oil, but the road condition will affect the life of the oil to a large extent. In areas with poor road conditions, the oil change period of the oil should be shortened. Lubricant manufacturers reminded that the new engine design requirements, due to the use of electronically controlled fuel injection, catalytic converters, EGR, PCV and turbocharged, intercooling and other technologies, the engine's working conditions are more stringent, using high quality level Engine oil can also extend engine life, reduce fuel consumption, reduce wear, extend oil change intervals, save oil, save maintenance costs and increase efficiency. High-grade engine oil can replace low-grade, while low-grade engine oil cannot be used in advanced engines.

During the mechanical operation, there will be friction between the gears, and the friction will generate heat and generate friction debris. If these heats and impurities are not removed in time, the mechanical parts will be damaged, which is greatly shortened. The service life of the parts, so people add a proper amount of lubricant between the gears, to reduce the friction between the gears, to take away the heat generated by the friction of the gears and the friction generated by the friction. Different types of gear oils are different in their external environment and internal factors. For example, in cold winters, lubricating oil should be used to select relatively rare lubricants, because the lubricating oil will gradually change with the temperature drop. Thick; as the temperature rises, the lubricant will become thinner, so when using gear lubricants in the hot summer, you should choose a thicker gear lubricant, so that the lubricant can be used in such an environment. Function to achieve the purpose of protecting the gear. When choosing a lubricant, the first thing to look at is the date of production of the lubricant and the certificate of the product certificate to ensure the quality of the lubricant. Secondly, choose different types of lubricant according to the environment. The third is to buy. Before you must ensure that the lubricant has not precipitated, there are no other abnormal conditions, if any, should be replaced in time. No matter what is purchased, people first think of their price, and then they will consider the quality and other issues, and some unscrupulous businesses just seize the consumer's psychology and sell some defective products to consumers, so Xingang Lubrication Technology advises consumers to not only look at the price when buying gear lubricants, but also to see the quality and other details to ensure that the products they purchase can achieve the results they expect.

Each type of lubricant has its own product specifications. There are a series of quality indicators in the specifications. The manufacturer controls and produces according to these indicators. After passing the inspection, it can be put on the market. There are many types of lubricants and their uses are different. There are two types of indicators. One is a common indicator. All or most of the lubricant products are required to pass these indicators, although the specific data are different. The other is due to the use. Different, each variety has its own indicators. The first category can be divided into three categories: (1) Physical and chemical indicators indicate the intrinsic quality of the product. The basic physical and chemical properties of the lubricating oil are also the minimum requirements. Generally, the glassware used in the laboratory is measured according to standard methods, which saves time and effort, such as viscosity, flash point, etc. Production must be measured. In recent years, there have been many automated measuring instruments with physical and chemical indicators, which not only saves manpower, but also improves the measurement speed, and also reduces the measurement error and improves the accuracy. (2) The performance index indicates the performance of the lubricating oil in use, such as anti-oxidation, anti-foaming, extreme pressure, etc. These items also have standard methods, but the experimental equipment is more complicated and expensive, time-consuming and labor-intensive than physical and chemical The indicators have certain requirements for the quality of the operators. Some of the simple lubricant production plants are also incapable of being configured. In addition to testing the quality of Changping, it can also be used for the development of new products. It is not necessary to make every batch of products in production, but to retest when there are changes in raw materials or processes and formulations, as a guarantee project. (3) Simulated bench test The equipment used in this experiment is a special standard test machine or a representative engine actually used. The experimental conditions simulate the typical working conditions in actual use, so the experimental results can best reflect the actual situation of the lubricating oil. The performance of the lubricant is also the most convincing. The analog bench test has standard test methods. These methods consume a lot of manpower, physics and time in the experiment. The standardization process of the method also requires a lot of manpower, material resources and time.

Hydraulic oil can be described as the "blood" of hydraulic machinery. The failure of most hydraulic systems can be solved by detecting and observing the condition of the hydraulic oil to find the cause of the fault, thus eliminating the fault. 1. The hydraulic oil has impurities that are turbid There are 3 types of impurities in hydraulic oil, namely solid impurities (debris, solid particles, solid impurities formed by the deterioration of hydraulic oil, etc.), liquid impurities (mainly water, viscous impurities formed by the deterioration of hydraulic oil) and gaseous impurities. (mainly air). If the hydraulic oil is white turbid, it can eliminate the possibility of solid impurities and liquid viscous impurities, which can only be caused by air. Sampling and testing hydraulic oil. Aerobic drops are dropped on the hot iron plate. If bubbles appear (water becomes water vapor or bubbles at high temperatures), it can be judged to be water in the hydraulic oil; otherwise, the hydraulic oil contains air. If it is determined that the hydraulic oil is mixed with moisture and causes turbidity, after the hydraulic oil is allowed to stand for a while, the water is allowed to sink to the bottom of the hydraulic tank, and then the water is removed. However, if the moisture content is too high and the hydraulic oil is emulsified, a new hydraulic oil needs to be replaced. If it is determined that the air is mixed with air, causing turbidity, check the hydraulic system piping for leaks and cut off the air from the source. 2. The hydraulic oil temperature rises abnormally The reason why the temperature of the hydraulic oil and oil rises abnormally has the following three aspects: First, because the set value of the safety valve pressure is too low, most of the hydraulic oil flows back to the fuel tank through the safety valve, so that the work efficiency of the hydraulic system is too low, such as If the load is too large, most of the energy will be converted into the thermal energy of the hydraulic oil, resulting in high temperature: second, due to the poor cooling effect of the cooling system, the hydraulic oil temperature is too high; third, the hydraulic oil circulates too frequently in the oil circuit (often It is caused by insufficient oil), which causes heat dissipation and temperature rise. The fault diagnosis should be from easy to difficult. First check the amount of oil in the hydraulic tank. If the oil in the tank is insufficient, it should be added to the standard level in time. When filling, please pay attention to the use of the same hydraulic oil, should also be filtered before use. If the oil quantity is right, check whether the oil cooling system is blocked. If it is found that the oil cooling system hinders air circulation, it should be cleaned in time to ensure normal air circulation and facilitate heat dissipation. Sometimes the fan tape is too loose and slippery, which will cause the fan efficiency to decrease, and the cooling effect is not good. It should be checked and adjusted in time, and if necessary, replace the new tape. If there is no problem with the oil quantity, the oil cooling system, and the fan tape, it can be determined that the main relief valve setting pressure is lower than the standard value. The pressure setting of the main relief valve should be adjusted again to the standard value. 3 hydraulic oil is dirty Hydraulic oil is dirty and dirty, which may result in chemical changes in the oil due to long-term use; it may also be that too many impurities have undergone physical changes. As long as you find the cause of these two changes, you can take appropriate measures. In the absence of the necessary testing equipment and equipment, it is judged whether the hydraulic oil is chemically changed or physically changed. A relatively simple and practical method is to use filter paper to detect. Sampling the hydraulic oil, dripping the oil onto the filter paper, observing the oil faint formed by it, if the stratification and splitting phenomenon of the oil faint is obvious (the middle is dirty, the more the edge is clearer), indicating that the hydraulic oil has deteriorated, it must be Replace the new oil; if the oil mist spreads evenly, it means that the impurity content of the hydraulic oil is too much. Check the oil filter in time, replace the filter element, and replace the new hydraulic oil if necessary.

The viscosity level of the lubricating oil is very important for the normal operation of the engine. In order to prevent the contact surface between the moving parts of the engine from being worn, the lubricating oil must have sufficient viscosity to form an oil film between the moving parts at various operating temperatures, thereby making the automobile The engine runs smoothly. However, the use of excessively viscous lubricants can also cause some drawbacks. Today, I would like to introduce in detail what are the hazards of using excessively high-grade lubricants? One: may cause wear and tear When the annual oversize is higher than affecting the engine start in Chengdu, it is likely to cause severe wear and tear at the start of the engine. Because the viscosity of the lubricating oil is too large, the flow is slow, and the oil pressure is reported, but the amount of lubricating oil passing through is not much, and it cannot be replenished to the friction surface in time. Some of the cycle speeds are also slower, and the cooling and heat dissipation effects become poor, causing the engine to overheat. Since the lubricating oil circulation speed is slow, the number of passes through the lubricating oil filter is also reduced, so that it is difficult to clean the worn metal chips, carbon particles, and dust from the friction surface in time. Two: energy consumption Since the viscosity is too large, the friction between the friction surfaces of the parts increases, and in order to overcome the increased friction, more fuel is consumed, resulting in a huge waste of energy. Although there are no mandatory requirements for domestic lubricants, low viscosity will be the future development trend of lubricants. Therefore, during the seasonal alternation period, the driver must pay attention to the viscosity of the lubricating oil, and always check the quantity of the lubricating oil and the oil quality, and replace it in time. At the same time, it is better not to mix the lubricating oils of different brands. It is recommended that the owner use high-quality lubricant additives and use them regularly to ensure that the engine avoids overhaul and prolongs its life.

Lubricating principle of lubricating oil Lubricating oils generally consist of two parts, a base oil and an additive. The base oil is the main component of the lubricating oil, which determines the basic properties of the lubricating oil. The additive can make up for and improve the performance of the base oil. The performance of some lines is an important part of the lubricating oil. Under certain conditions, the process of mixing two or more base oils of similar nature and composition in a certain ratio and adding additives becomes blending. In general, lubricating oil blending requires 1 to 3 base oils and 1 to 5 additives. Most of the lubricating oil blending is a homogeneous mixing of liquid-liquid phase mutual dissolution, and in some cases, an insoluble liquid-liquid phase system, and a liquid-liquid dispersion formed after mixing. When the lubricating oil additive is a solid, the liquid-solid phase is heterogeneously mixed or dissolved, and the solid additives are not many, and eventually mutually miscible to form a homogeneous phase. It is generally considered that liquid-liquid homogeneous mixing is a combination of three diffusion mechanisms, such as molecular diffusion and convection diffusion. (1) Molecular diffusion The transfer of matter is caused by the relative motion of the molecules. This diffusion takes place in the space of the molecular scale. (2) Eddy current diffusion When mechanically transferred to a liquid material, the fluid at the interface between the high velocity fluid and the low velocity fluid is subjected to intense shearing, forming a large number of vortices, and mass transfer caused by the vortex splitting motion. This mixing process is carried out in a vortex-scale space. (3) Main body convection diffusion This includes all mass transfer caused by the circulation of all liquids that do not belong to molecular motion or vortex motion, such as the long mass transfer process caused by convective circulation in a stirred tank. This mixing process is carried out in a large scale space. Lubricating oil blending process type The lubricating oil blending process mainly has two basic forms: tank blending and pipeline blending. If further distinction is made, it can be generalized into several main production methods such as tank blending, pipeline blending, tank-pipe blending, and gas pulse blending. The tank blending system sends the base oil and additives directly to the blending tank in proportion, and after being stirred, it is the refined oil. According to the formulation requirements, the pipeline blending system controls the flow rate of the raw materials in the pipeline according to the proportion of each component. After the mixer, it is the refined oil, which can be directly transported to the buffer tank for filling. The characteristics of the observation system are that the components are sent to the blending tank at a high speed, but the stirring time is long. The lubricating oil pipeline blending system includes the base oil pipeline and the additive pipeline, and the same frequency converter adjusts the rotational speed of the pipeline pump. In order to dynamically adjust the flow rate of the raw material oil in each pipe to a preset ratio, the optimal blending precision is ensured.

In the field of industrial production, the most common is the lubricating oil. Why does it say so? This is because the performance of its products is very prominent and therefore very popular. Natural sales are also very good. So, how do you check the changes of lubricants? Here's to listen to industry experts for a detailed introduction. The inspection of lubricating oil is very important, especially its change. Here's how to check the change of oil. Through the exhaust inspection If the exhaust gas is blue smoke, it means that the valve oil seal fails, and the lubricating oil enters the cylinder combustion chamber; it may also be due to excessive gaps between the piston ring and the cylinder wall or the failure of the piston ring; or due to the aging and damage of the engine oil seals and oil seals. Causes oil leaks and consumes too much oil. 2. Color According to industry experts on lubricants, it is possible to take out a banknote, pull a grease meter and wipe it on paper to observe the presence of color and impurities. Generally, after the oil has been replaced, the vehicle will turn black after being used for a period of time after it is used for a period of time. This is normal. Other colors are not normal. If the color of the oil is found to be grayed out, whitened, or as if it is a chemical phenomenon, the oil is mixed with water. It may cause leakage of the communication between the engine cooling system and the combustion system. 3. Check the cover Unscrew the filler cap and turn it upside down to observe the bottom. This can be seen at the bottom of the filler cap. If the bottom of the fuel filler cap is covered with a dark emulsion with a thick consistency, and there are small droplets mixed with oil, this is an abnormal situation. The cylinder head gasket, cylinder head or cylinder block may be damaged, causing coolant. Infiltrated into the oil caused. If this happens, contaminated oil can cause damage to the interior of the engine and requires major repairs.

In order to eliminate the foam in the lubricating oil, an anti-foaming agent or the like having a small surface tension is generally added to the lubricating oil. The addition of an anti-foam agent can destroy the foam formed by the lubricating oil and the air, reduce the stability of the foam adsorption film, shorten the existence time of the foam, and thus ensure the normal operation of the equipment. Anti-foaming agents for lubricating oils include silicone oil anti-foaming agents and non-silicone oil anti-foaming agents. The cause of the bubble When used, engine oils and industrial oils are often sprayed into mist. This causes some oil to mix in with the lubricating oil, resulting in relatively stable bubbles flowing into the crankcase and into the oil tank. As a result, the engine cannot be replaced. Normal operation. Lubricants in storage and normal use, due to environmental pollution, atomization deterioration, deterioration and other reasons, will cause the surface tension of oil products to drop. If the lubricating oil contains polar additives and anionic surface active groups, it will also cause a drop in surface tension. For such oils, under the influence of external conditions, such as circulation or high-speed stirring, the air is inhaled and bubbles are generated and it is difficult to eliminate them in a short time. Anti-foaming agent Lubricating oil foam poses a great danger to the use of lubricating oil. A large number of stable foams will increase the volume and easily allow the oil to overflow from the tank. At the same time, it will increase the compressibility of the oil and reduce the oil pressure. If hydraulic oil transfers work by static pressure, once there is foam, it will reduce the oil pressure in the system. This will destroy the function of transferring work in the system. In addition, increasing the contact area of ??lubricating oil and air and accelerating the aging of oil products is particularly serious for air compressor oils. Lubricating oil with bubbles is compressed so that once the bubbles burst under high pressure, the energy generated by the metal is generated by the fire metal and craters are formed on the metal surface. Lubricants are susceptible to active ingredients in formulations such as detergents, extrusion additives, and corrosion inhibitors, which greatly increase the tendency of the oil to bubble. The foam stability of lubricating oils varies with viscosity and surface tension. The stability of the foam is inversely proportional to the viscosity of the oil. At the same time as the temperature rises, the foam temperature tends to decrease. The less viscous oil forms a large, easily disappearing foam, and dispersed and stable small bubbles are produced in the high-viscosity oil. The antifoaming agent acts primarily to suppress the formation of oil foam and rupture the foam. The air bubbles will damage the oil evenly along the oil pipeline to the entire lubricating surface and damage the normal operation of the oil. Especially in the hydraulic system, the oil supply is hindered and will have serious consequences. Therefore, the lubricant used under these conditions needs to be used. Adding an additive, the oil is not easy to air bubbles, and even if it has been foamed, it can disappear in a short time. Anti-foam agents are generally insoluble in oil and are highly dispersed in the presence of colloidal ions in the oil. The dispersed antifoam particles adsorb onto the foam and then become a part of the foam as a foam and then expand on the film. With the smaller expansion of the anti-foaming agent, the film becomes thinner and thinner, and finally breaks to achieve the purpose of breaking the film.

The full name of antifreeze is [motor engine coolant", commonly known as [antifreeze fluid". It is the working medium of automobile cooling system and has antifreeze function. In addition, it also has anti-boiling, anti-corrosion, waterproof scale and lubricating oil cooling system. Features. Antifreeze has antifreeze function The freezing point of water is 0°C, and the freezing point of antifreeze can generally be lower than -25°C. In cold winter parking, it is possible to prevent the freezing night from freezing and cracking the radiator and freezing the engine block. Antifreeze has anti-boil function Antifreeze has a relatively high boiling point Antifreeze has a higher boiling point than water The boiling point refers to the temperature at which the liquid boils. As early as normal atmospheric pressure, the boiling point of water is 100°C, and the boiling point of antifreeze is generally higher than 106°C, which can effectively prevent the [opening" phenomenon of the engine. Antifreeze has anti-corrosion function Since the engine cooling system includes several metals such as steel, aluminum alloy, cast iron, copper, and solder used in welding of tanks, the cylinder block and cylinder head are generally made of cast aluminum or cast iron. The modern tank is mainly made of aluminum alloy. The long-term contact of the antifreeze with these metals must be able to protect all these metals. The use of deionized water and appropriate additives can effectively prevent the occurrence of various types of corrosion. Antifreeze has a certain degree of lubrication Antifreeze is "oily" and the use of antifreeze can reduce the wear of the circulating pump. Antifreeze can prevent the formation of scale Scale is caused by the presence of insoluble salts or oxide crystals on the inner surface of the cooling system. The main substances that produce scale are calcium sulfate, calcium carbonate, and magnesium carbonate. The high-quality antifreeze fluid is made of distilled water and contains anti-fouling additives. It not only has no scale but also has the function of cleaning and descaling. Antifreeze mainly consists of antifreeze, corrosion inhibitor, defoamer, colorant, buffer, distilled water and other components.

At the time of student life, we heard that water is the source of life and one of the indispensable and most important material resources for human survival and development. The same effect of oil on the engine, and has the role of lubrication, cooling, sealing, cleaning, etc., can be said that the quality of the oil directly affects the performance and life of the engine. But why can't oil be replenished with metabolism like water in the human body, but must be replaced as a whole? Here's just for everyone. The reason why the oil needs to be replaced 1, the role of oil lubrication we all know, but in the lubrication process oil will be gradually consumed, which will produce impurities, affect the lubrication of the oil, so need regular replacement. 2. Cooling is also a function of oil. After a long time of use, the cooling effect will be reduced. 3, good sealing mechanical efficiency will increase, due to long-term use of oil and heat, it is inevitable that chemical reactions will occur, and reduce its sealing. 4. The oil will take away the impurities and metal wear caused by the engine's operation, but it will not be excluded from the body, so this is also a reason for the oil to be replaced frequently. 5. The oil will gradually decrease during use. When the piston descends, a layer of oil film forms on the cylinder cylinder wall. When the piston operates at a high speed, some oil is sucked into the combustion chamber and burned together with the mixed gas.

Grease is grease, right? Unfortunately, the answer is not that simple, because there are many types of greases. If the right grease is not being used in equipment, you could be paying too much for replacement parts. On the other hand, the right grease can allow equipment to run for years without a maintenance problem. The key is learning which grease is right for your needs. Calcium Sulfonate Not new to the grease scene, calcium sulfonate thickeners have been around for almost 50 years. This particular type of grease has inherent extreme pressure (EP) properties that stand out from the rest. These properties, combined with the fact that it can be formulated for use in H-1 (food-grade) applications, make it an attractive alternative to other greases. Background There are a number of grease thickeners available, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Briefly, typical lithium-based greases (the most common) are made from a fatty acid, usually 12-hydroxystearic acid, and a lithium base to produce a simple soap which acts as the grease thickener. Components are then added to give it EP and other desirable properties that allow equipment to run at peak performance. Figure 1. Calcium Sulfonate Grease To make a lithium-based complex grease, part of the fatty acid is replaced with another acid (usually a diacid), which makes the complex soap. This type of mixed soap structure has special properties that enable the grease to be heated to a higher temperature without losing its structure or oil separating from the thickener. This maximum temperature is referred to as the dropping point. The dropping point is critical because it is the point at which the grease reverts back to a liquid (the oil separates from the thickener). Calcium sulfonate-based greases have a higher dropping point, making them attractive for some high-temperature applications. Calcium sulfonate greases are made by converting a fluid detergent that contains amorphous calcium carbonate to a grease containing calcite particles. Because of the calcite particles` lubricating properties, performance additives containing sulfur, phosphorous or zinc may not be needed. This is why some calcium sulfonate-based greases are attractive to the food industry. The Art of Making Grease Max Born, a German mathematician and physicist, once said, [Science is not formal logic. It needs the free play of the mind in as great a degree as any other creative art." Making a grease is no exception. With respect to calcium sulfonate greases, the art involves the process used to convert the detergent to grease. How one executes this can affect the EP performance and dropping point. There`s more to the art of making grease. There is a range of manufacturers, and sometimes the process used for one manufacturer`s equipment must be modified for another. Therefore, art also plays a role in the manufacturing process. Concerns with Calcium Sulfonates Although calcium sulfonate greases have desirable properties, an inhibiting factor is the cost. Calcite particles are the business end of making the product work, but reaching that point can be expensive. In addition, calcium sulfonate supply is limited, while costs are escalating. Plants are operating at capacity, and grease is not the only bidder. Calcium sulfonates are used in engine oil, metalworking, automatic transmission fluid, industrial and automotive gear oil additives as well as other applications. To complicate the situation, let`s compare the treat rates. Heavy-duty diesel applications require an approximate treat level of five percent. In grease applications, the treat levels spike to between 20 and 50 percent. That`s a big difference and a major reason for the high cost. Another downside is their performance with respect to pumpability and water sprayoff. Pumpability is a concern that can be alleviated through proper base oil selection. In the ASTM D4049 sprayoff test, a thin layer of grease is placed on a panel and sprayed with water. After the test is completed, the percent of grease lost is calculated. Many calcium sulfonate greases typically show significant sprayoff. Table 1. Test Results Comparing Lithium Complex Grease to Calcium Sulfonate-based Greases. Advantages and Applications When would you want to use calcium sulfonate grease? When the benefit outweighs the cost. If an application has specific requirements that only this type of grease can meet, then it is worth the price. This grease excels in EP performance, as demonstrated in the ASTM D2596 four-ball EP test, and in the ASTM D2509 Timken test. Some formulas also excel in salt fog performance. Applications that fit this category include marine environments, suspension bridges, automotive or other applications exposed to salt conditions. General applications for calcium sulfonate greases include automotive, agricultural, construction, food, industry, mining, paper manufacturing and steel mills. Specific automotive applications include chassis, ball joints, universal joints and wheel bearings. Industrial applications include continuous casters, conveyors, ball mills, crushers, off-shore and underwater applications.1 Calcium sulfonate greases are also used in motor-operated steam valves to control high-pressure steam. These steam valves are typically found in nuclear plants and thermal-generating stations. An article in NLGI Spokesman, July 20022, supports that the calcite particles, inherent in calcium sulfonate greases, make them a good choice for high-temperature applications. Calcium sulfonate greases are generally beneficial for rust performance, with oxidation stability considered good or excellent. Rust inhibitors are surfactants that neutralize acids on the surface of metal. They can also make an oily surface, or barrier, to stop rust on the surface. Although the thickener can affect oxidation, it is often based on the oil`s quality. In the case of the four-ball weld test, a weld of 315 kg, 400 kg or even higher is common with a calcium sulfonate grease. Calcite particles have been described as forming a wafer- or scale-like structure which creates shear planes that trap between the metal surfaces. This forms a sacrificial layer on the metal that is constantly sheared away. After all, it is better to shear the calcite particles than the metal on the equipment. In summary, if the application requires H-1 approval, heat resistance or water tolerance, a properly manufactured calcium sulfonate grease that meets your needs may be worth the price. References Jeff St. Aubin. Calcium Sulfonate Grease. Chemtool Inc. W. Mackwood, Crompton Co., and K. J. Brown, Utility Service Associates. Proper Grease Selection Reduces Steam Valve Maintenance.

"What are the typical grease thickener properties for calcium-12 hydroxy or lithium-12 hydroxy? How can you determine which grease is appropriate for your application?" Lithium 12-hydroxystearic acid has widely been considered a preferred fatty acid in the manufacturing of lithium-based grease thickeners. This fatty acid has had its application in calcium-based grease thickeners as well. Greases formulated with this acid will often be smooth with a buttery texture. They also tend to have a higher thickener content by weight of about 10-15 percent. The smooth texture and many of the other advantages derived from these thickeners is due to their webbed fibrous pattern, which is only visible on a microscopic scale. Calcium 12-hydroxystearate grease is one of the most common types of anhydrous calcium-based greases. It has a dropping point of around 275 to 300 degrees F, with a maximum usable temperature of approximately 230 degrees F and average characteristics at low temperatures. When well-formulated, the grease normally has good oxidation and water resistance, but other additives may be necessary to protect against rust. Calcium 12-hydroxystearate is also generally compatible with many other greases as well. The vast majority of lithium-based greases are formulated with 12-hydroxystearate soap for versatility. The dropping point for these greases is higher, around 350-400 degrees F. They also have good resistance to water, although the grease may soften and run when large quantities of water are present. The maximum usable temperature is around 250 degrees F, which is better or equal to most other grease types. Unlike calcium 12-hydroxystearate, lithium 12-hydroxystearate is less compatible with other greases. When trying to decide which grease is best for your application, evaluate the top performance properties that will impact the application. Some of these properties have been mentioned already, including the dropping point, maximum usable temperature, water resistance and oxidation resistance. The usable temperature range is especially critical when the application will experience temperature extremes. The grease's consistency will be important to consider in every application. It is determined by the base oil viscosity and the thickener concentration and type. Lithium-based greases remain very common in the industry (as much as 70 percent or more) for their overall performance. Other types of thickeners, like calcium 12-hydroxystearate, will be limited to specific purposes, such as for certain types of seals, chains and roller bearings. It should also be noted that some greases have thickeners that are mixtures of both lithium and calcium. Other greases may even be manufactured with 12-hydroxystearate as the fatty acid. Much like any specialty grease formulation, these lubricants likely are not intended for multi-purpose applications. Be sure to reference the manufacturer's product data sheets for specific application recommendations.

"What is the typical base oil viscosity of a grease for high-speed bearings?" The base oil component of grease is what provides the essential separation between two surfaces that may come in contact. Therefore, selecting the correct viscosity is very important. One common way to identify the appropriate viscosity is to first determine the speed factor, which is calculated from the bearing speed (revolutions per minute) multiplied by the pitch diameter (if using the NDm method). When the bearing speed increases, the speed factor also increases. If the bearing speed and speed factor increase, the corresponding viscosity for the application will need to decrease. As seen in the chart below, a base oil viscosity of less than 70 centistokes (at 40 degrees C) is ideal when approaching a speed factor of 600,000. Since high-speed applications tend to have higher temperatures and thus a shorter grease life, the overall grease properties should be designed to withstand these conditions. The operating viscosity will depend on the actual operating temperatures. With a speed factor of 400,000 and operating temperatures less than 60 degrees C, a minimum viscosity grade of 15-22 may be required. If the operating temperature is closer to 100 degrees C, a minimum viscosity grade of 32-46 may be necessary. More viscosity is acceptable and may contribute to better protection as long as it isn`t excessive and doesn`t lead to extreme temperatures, a premature breakdown of the grease or a bearing failure. Therefore, a viscosity grade of 68 or higher is frequently selected in these applications. The thickener type, concentration and NLGI number must also be considered. Because of the many factors to consider, it is not unusual to see greases labeled specifically for high-temperature or high-speed applications. Again, this conveys that the grease has been formulated to operate in these conditions. For example, a grease`s structural stability, oxidation resistance, wear and corrosion protection, etc., are all very important for high-speed applications. Because higher temperatures are expected in these applications, a synthetic base oil and an advanced additive system are often recommended, particularly if it is a critical bearing. Depending on the manufacturer, different thickeners may be appropriate, including polyurea and lithium, if they have good channeling characteristics and don`t contribute to excessive heat generation as the bearing speeds up. Finally, keep in mind that grease generally will not last as long with higher speed bearings. For a healthy bearing life, it`s best to replenish with grease more frequently.