What is grease lubricant?
Grease is a solid or semi-solid substance that has an oily phase and is composed of a stiffening and lubricating substance.
In fact, greases are made up of many different elements, the most important of which are hardening and lubricating materials.
The hardener in the grease greatly aids lubrication.
In fact, the hardener in grease is what distinguishes it from industrial oil.
The amount and type of hardening agent in grease determines its quality.
Industrial oil:
Industrial oils are used in the majority of rotating devices; for these devices, industrial oil lubricant is the most commonly used because industrial oil keeps the device cooler during movement and rotation. It should be noted that industrial oils are also suitable for use in devices with operating temperatures above 200 Fahrenheit.
Because petroleum is the main component of these oils, they are among the most useful and best-selling lubricants. The primary and most significant benefit of these oils is that they do not absorb any deposits to themselves or the device during continuous and long-term use. Other benefits of these oils include low friction, heat resistance, non-oxidization, and high cleaning ability.
The distinctions between industrial oil and grease lubricant are as follows:
- Grease lasts longer in the devices and can withstand various conditions.
- Grease is a more practical material for controlling leakage and provides a better seal against contaminants.
- The use of grease reduces oil leakage and lubrication frequency.
- Grease is more easily used in many industrial equipment and devices.
- Higher quality greases can withstand some pollution, resist leakage and consistency changes, and are compatible with all seals.
- Using industrial oils makes emptying much easier, and it is simple to control the required quantity.
- Compared to grease, industrial oil is much cleaner.
- Industrial oils improve cooling.
- Industrial oils are also used to extend (double) the life of the bearings.
It should be noted that greases have a greater viscosity or thickness than oils, and since grease lasts longer, it prevents the entry of dirt and, when exposed to water, increases resistance to washing and rusting.
Advantages and disadvantages of using grease instead of industrial oil:
Advantages of grease:
Grease is much easier to use than industrial oils. One of the best materials for lubrication systems is high-quality grease. Because it lasts longer in the desired location, this product reduces the number of times lubrication is required. Lubricant leakage and dripping are reduced by greases, and adhesion to parts increases in high temperature and pressure. Fireproof greases are completely heat resistant.
Disadvantages of grease:
- Grease does not keep the machine as cool as industrial oils do.
- Grease is more difficult to pack, maintain, and store than industrial oils.
- Because grease cannot be removed, it is impossible to clean the contamination of devices or moving parts.
- Industrial oils are easy to flow and penetrate into the smallest parts of devices or their channels; Grace, on the other hand, is not like that.
- Because of the physical nature of grease, it is difficult to separate and drain it from engines.
Grease usage tips:
- Neither fireproof nor waterproof grease should be used in place of the other.
- Remove any previous grease from the lubrication location before beginning greasing work.
- Grease should only be used in devices and equipment as needed, and it is not recommended to use more or less than is necessary.
- There is a possibility that the oil will separate from the grease during warehouse storage, rendering the grease unusable because the grease will not return to its original state when mixed.
- Do not use greases that are looser or harder than the machine needs.
- Keep in mind that adding oil will not lower the NLGI if lower NLGI (looser) greases are not available.
Reasons for using grease:
Grease functions similarly to oil as a lubricant, and the reason for using grease instead of oil is its type of use.
Lubrication of some parts, such as wheel bearings, should be done in such a way that it remains in the lubrication site and performs the intended tasks. The only solution in this situation is to use grease. Grease with the appropriate structure is chosen based on the type of function, equipment, and part.
Application Instructions for Grease Lubricant:
Choosing the right grease can be a difficult task, but having a basic understanding of grease properties and applications can assist us in making decisions. When selecting a grease for a specific application, it is important to consider which grease is most consistent with the needs of the intended application.
The most common cause of device failure is the use of the incorrect grease for different applications. Another consideration when selecting grease is the compatibility of the chosen grease with the grease that has previously been used in the machine. Grease with the same hardener should, in general, be used in the same system. A sodium complex grease, for example, can be used in place of a sodium grease.
Failures of grease-lubricated parts are caused by the four main reasons listed below:
- Choosing the improper type of grease and applying it incorrectly
- Incompatibility of the greases used in the device, resulting in decreased grease performance.
- Grease contamination with solid particles, resulting in excessive wear
- Using the wrong amount of grease (too little or too much)
Grease compatibility
Incompatibility occurs when the efficiency of a mixture of greases is lower than the efficiency of each of the primary greases. Mixing greases with different chemical structures is not recommended. When you mix greases with different hardeners, you get greases that are either too stiff to lubricate properly or too loose to stay in place. When greases are mixed with different base oils, the grease fluid component is unable to form a stable lubrication layer. By combining incompatible greases, the grease's resistance to heat and shear stress is reduced. If the type of grease used must be changed, the part and the lubrication system must be thoroughly cleaned of the previous grease. If this is not possible, new grease should be injected into the system at high pressure (low speed) to remove any remaining old grease on the other side. In the case of a system whose grease type has recently been changed, re-greasing should be completed in a shorter period of time.
Grease performs the following lubricant functions in special working conditions.
- Reducing friction and wear
- Protect against rust and corrosion
- The ability for parts to move at low temperatures
- Compatibility with seals
Greases are a type of lubricant that meets the needs of the industry in special lubrication conditions while saving us from complex and costly design.