Resources for greases

Reducing Noise in Wind Turbines

2013-05-22T08:44:50-05:00

"We have a problem with some of our wind turbines. Their yaw drive systems are very noisy. Currently, we use a diurea grease. Can you advise a way to reduce the noise?"

An unusual noise is only a sign of an issue, not necessarily an issue itself. Therefore, the first thing that should be done is a thorough investigation into the origin of the noise in hopes of finding the root cause, as opposed to making an assumption that a lubricant will solve the issue.

If the noise is due to a mechanical problem such as severe bearing wear or misalignment, then an adjustment in grease type or usage will not resolve the issue.

Another thing to consider is the way the grease is delivered to the y

Advice for Lubricating Wire Ropes

2013-05-15T09:28:53-05:00

"We are a mechanized cable supplier, and we apply grease on the wire ropes by manually brushing grease on a set number of wire ropes (say 10 pieces) at a time and then insert the lubed wire rope into the conduit. Is there a testing method for a single finished cable assembly? How much grease should be applied? If there is a better testing method, do you know any testing labs that are qualified to do this testing?"

Cable and wire ropes are lubricated for a variety of different reasons. One reason is to reduce the rubbing friction of the wires in the rope as they move relative to each other. These wires are wrapped around a core of either cable or rope. The rope flexes as it is pulled around pulleys or wrapped onto spools, and

Choosing a High-Temperature Lubricant

2013-05-08T09:32:22-05:00

"If the temperature is more than 400 degrees C (750 degrees F), what should be the basic composition of the grease or lubricant?"

Many factors affect the selection of a lubricant’s composition. With respect to temperature, the major contributors are viscosity, thermal degradation and oxidation. In a perfect world, if you focused solely on temperature to drive lubricant selection, you would want a lubricant that was pumpable at low temperatures while still providing the protection at high temperatures (very high viscosity index), that would not thermally degrade or “cook” onto hot machine surfaces and leave deposits, and that would not oxidize at the elevated temperatures. This means that a hydrocarbon-based lubricant would not be an option.

Even polyalphaolef

Understanding Grease Compatibility

2013-04-03T09:54:51-05:00

"Is there a grease compatibility table? What are the parameters that control the compatibility of different types of grease thickeners?"

The decision to make a lubricant change within a machine should always be carefully evaluated. With greases, as opposed to oils, it is especially important to be cautious when switching from one lubricant type to another. Due to grease’s fundamental properties, it can be difficult to remove all of the old grease before introducing new grease to a machine in the same manner that oil can be drained from a machine to add new oil.

Because of this challenge, the decision to use a new grease in a machine must be managed with grease compatibility in mind. The chart below illustrates the compatibility between most grease types with three categ

Sprayon Unveils New Food-Grade Synthetic Grease

2013-03-26T10:01:43-05:00

Sprayon Products recently introduced the new LU 207 Food-Grade Synthetic Grease as part of its expanded line of NSF H1-rated food-grade lubricants.

The new grease is a pure synthetic multi-service, non-melting, waterproof grease fortified with PTFE. It is designed specifically to lubricate, seal out water and resist chemical attack under the most demanding conditions.

With its film strength and extreme-pressure qualities, Sprayon LU 207 Food Grade Synthetic Grease forms a durable film of lubrication that prevents metal-to-metal contact and is resistant to water washout.

To learn more about the LU 207 Food-Grade Synthetic Grease or other Sprayon products, visit FoodGrade.Sprayon.com&nb

Grease Analysis: Early Warning System for Failures and Proactive Maintenance Tool

2013-02-11T14:47:10-06:00

Taking oil samples on a regular basis as part of a maintenance strategy has become state of the art. Oils are tested with regards to their condition, possible contamination and wear. Laboratory results and evaluations by experienced engineers can support the identification of upcoming component failures, prove whether maintenance actions like filtration or dehydration work properly and help establish condition-based oil drain intervals.

It’s a different story when it comes to grease. In the past, continuous trend-based grease monitoring was not a common practice even though the majority of installed bearings are grease lubricated and have a substantial impact on the reliability of the equipment. However, a change in philosophy seems to be occurring with a trend toward more routine grease analysis. This has been driven by technical issues and supported by positive experiences with oil analysis programs.

In addition, there have been many examples from the field where

Application is Key in Grease Selection

2013-01-23T10:32:44-06:00

"Can you offer any suggestions as to which greases should be used in different applications?"

The application of grease can be at times very complex, although a little knowledge goes a long way. For example, in construction equipment the environment is harsh with water, dirt, poor seals and heavy loads being common. In this type of situation, you need a grease that is highly water resistant, tenacious, with good rust protection and film strength. Barium greases work well along with the lithium 12‑hydroxy greases (usually with polymers). Some specific formulations using an aluminum-complex thickener also find use here.

Bearings (ball, roller, needle, etc.) normally see much less contamination but experience wide variations in both speed and temperature. Here,

Shell Opens Grease Plant in China

2013-01-22T09:39:12-06:00

Shell recently opened its newest grease plant in Zhuhai, China, which will make a range of lithium, lithium-calcium and lithium-complex greases used mainly in passenger cars and industrial bearing lubrication.

The plant, which is Shell's largest and 18^thworldwide, has a production capacity of 30,000 tons of greases a year, with the potential to be expanded to 40,000 tons a year. It is primarily designed to meet China's growing demand for greases.

"By building Shell's largest grease plant in China, we are able to be closer to our customers," said Huibert Vigeveno, executive chairman of Shell Companies in China. "China's lubricants demand, including that for grease, is growing fast, and we are committed to meeting our customers' needs and serving them well."

The plant will consist of a workshop with four production lines, grease-processing equipment, plant-control system, pack-filling lines, laboratory equipmen

Consider Consistency When Selecting Grease

2013-01-02T11:00:22-06:00

When instructing Noria’s Fundamentals of Machinery Lubrication course, I usually ask my students to tell me the type of grease that they currently use at their facility and not to give me a color. Most technicians understand that color doesn’t reveal much about a grease’s properties, but they don’t always answer correctly with the base oil viscosity, thickener and consistency.

Of course, greases are formulated with oil, thickener and additives. While you may be familiar with the formulation of grease, do you know what grease consistency means and how it should influence your grease selection?

Base Oil

Grease is formulated with up to 95 percent base oil. Most greases today use mineral oil as their fluid components. These mineral oil-based greases typically provide satisfactory performance in

LE Introduces New Moly Grease

2012-10-05T09:22:07-05:00

Lubrication Engineers (LE) Inc. recently introduced Almamoly HD Grease, a high-performance grease containing a special blend of solid lubricants and a calcium sulfonate thickener. Formulated to withstand elevated temperatures, heavy loads and exposure to water, Almamoly HD Grease is intended for long-lasting use in heavy-duty mobile equipment such as that used in construction, agriculture, open-pit mining and road building.

Almamoly HD Grease contains Almasol, LE's proprietary solid additive, as well as 5-percent molybdenum disulfide (also known as molydisulfide or moly). The combination of moly and Almasol helps to ensure reliable wear-resistant lubrication, staying in place even when the lubricant is squeezed out of the contact zone due to extreme pressure or heavy shock loading.

The c

How to Identify Different Types of Grease

2012-08-29T10:09:52-05:00

What are the real differences in the various types of grease?

Greases are primarily classified by their thickeners, the most common being metallic soaps. Others include bentonite clay, silica gel, polyurea and inorganic thickeners.

Soap‑based greases are produced from three main ingredients. One is the fatty material (animal or vegetable), which is usually 4 to 15 percent of the total, called the acid. The next is the base or alkali, which is the opposite of an acid. Bases used in making greases include calcium, aluminum, sodium, barium and lithium, with 1 to 3 percent normally needed. The third portion is the fluid, which can be selected from mineral oils, various types of synthetics, polyglycols or a never‑ending combination of fluids.

A more complex structure can be form

When to Use Solid-film Lubricants

2012-08-27T14:09:03-05:00

When should solid lubricants be used and what are their advantages?

A variety of solid materials with inherent lubricating capability are available for use in solid‑film lubricants. The most commonly used are molybdenum disulfide, graphite and polytetrafluoroethylene. While these are the most common, you also may see such materials as tungsten disulfide, boron nitride, lead oxide, antimony oxide, lead, tin, silver, fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), perfluoroalkoxy copolymer (PFA), etc.

No one formulation can satisfy all of the requirements on a cost‑effective basis. Properties that should be considered are coefficient of friction, load‑carrying capacity, corrosion resistance (susceptibility to galvanic corrosion) and electrical conductivity. Furthermore, one must consider the env

Lubrication Myth: Any Grease Will Do

2012-08-15T13:33:38-05:00

This video explains how there are many industry myths and misconceptions when it comes to mounted bearing installation and maintenance. One lubrication myth is that any grease will do. This is false because not all types of grease are the same. Some greases are incompatible because of the different thickeners or soaps used. Learn which type of grease is good for high speed and which is better for high load.

A Better Approach for Greasing Bearings

2012-08-10T14:51:28-05:00

If you already use vibration-monitoring equipment with “spike energy,” gSE or other high-frequency detection technology, you can optimize the quantity of grease added to a bearing by running your monitoring equipment while adding grease. When the overall level of the signal drops suddenly and noticeably, grease has reached the bearing. Stop adding more. Using this approach saves those on limited budgets from having to buy additional specialized greasing equipment with monitoring ability.

Is Your Bearing Getting Fresh Grease?

2012-07-09T08:51:50-05:00

Use caution with grease lines that run out of the machine frame and are intended to offer easy lubrication access points. Since these line extensions often carry more than a few shots of grease, the grease entering the bearing will not be robust and fresh. Vibration, time and temperature changes can lead to leaching of critical oil components from the grease thickener, leaving a dry soap in the tube.

Also, without visual access to the bearing area, there can be numerous undetected problems. The best approach is to provide access to the lube point as close to the bearing as possible. This enables the bearing to be inspected and ensures that fresh grease enters the lube cavity.

Time to Upgrade Your Grease?

2012-06-18T10:07:37-05:00

"Our supplier recently informed us about a new low-noise grease manufacturing process for motor greases. This appears to be an exercise in repackaging a product to sell it under a different name at a premium price. Does this new grease really offer extra value or should I continue with what I am currently using?"

Low-noise level greases are those greases that have been purified sufficiently so that there are no, or at least very few, large particles in the grease that could enter into the load zone and cause rotating elements to bump and grind, generating noise in the bearing.

These products were originally constructed for high-precision applications where the rise and fall of the bearing elements over contaminant particles entering the load zone through the grease could dama

Stop Pumping Oil into Bearing Grease

2012-06-06T08:09:50-05:00

"I am wondering about our lubricator's practice of pumping oil into oven roll bearings periodically to refresh the grease? Is this a good practice?"

This is a rather uncommon practice, but it is a good question. The short answer is that this is not a good idea. As you probably know, grease is a product of dispersion of a thickening agent in a liquid lubricant. Over time while in service, grease separates or dries out. The oil eventually goes away, and the thickener is left behind.

Assuming your technicians are trying to replace the oil that has separated, this might be possible under certain conditions. However, you should replenish the grease rather than the oil.

There are two problems with this practice. The first problem is that it is not that easy to mix gr

When to Switch to Automatic Lubricators

2012-05-16T09:19:24-05:00

"Do you have a recommended checklist before changing over equipment such as motors or air fins from conventional grease lubrication to automatic grease lubricators?"

Here are a few considerations:

1. Verify the amount of grease that should be supplied to the unit on an ongoing basis. This can be estimated by checking that the grease provides sufficient oil viscosity at operating temperature, calculating the volume required per lubrication event (based on element dimensions), calculating the frequency for relubrication and setting the system timer to assure that the volume in the lubricator displaces to provide the right volume over time.

2. Confirm that the supply and pressure-relief piping is free of obstructions. Check that the system does not shake appreciably,

Avoiding Grease Incompatibility Problems

2012-04-25T08:35:04-05:00

"We recently switched electric motor rebuild shops. Since switching, a number of bearings have failed, typically just a few months after putting the motor back into service. For the most part, these failures have been attributed to inadequate lubrication. On closer inspection, the grease appeared to have thinned out to almost a liquid consistency. We suspected that the rebuild shop was using a grease inferior to our electric motor grease, but they assure us that they are using a premium-quality synthetic grease. What is your opinion?"

Without more details, it is difficult to attribute an exact root cause. However, with greases, one of the most commonly encountered problems is incompatibility between different types of grease made from different thickeners.

For electric motors,

5 Ways to Prevent Bearing Failures

2012-04-13T16:32:16-05:00

The accurate diagnosis of a bearing failure is imperative to prevent repeat failures and additional expense. Rolling bearings are precision machine elements found in a wide variety of applications. They are typically very reliable even under the toughest conditions. Under normal operating conditions, bearings have a substantial service life, which is expressed as either a period of time or as the total number of rotations before the rolling elements or inner and outer rings fatigue or fail. According to research, less than 1 percent of rolling bearings do not reach their expected life.

You must be aware of the radial internal
clearance (RIC) and maintain the proper
RIC that was established in the
original design.

Premature Bearing Failure

When a bearing doe

How to Achieve Gear Coupling Reliability

2012-04-13T15:20:55-05:00

Gear couplings are among the most commonly used methods for connecting process equipment. When properly selected, installed and maintained, they can provide long life and good reliability. Gear couplings offer several advantages over other couplings, including moderate misalignment capacity, exceptional torsional stiffness and very high torque density.

However, when it comes to gear coupling reliability, there are many areas where failures may be initiated. Often these failures begin because of a lack of knowledge or a lack of execution of certain fundamentals, which are necessary for these couplings to run reliably.

Design, Selection and Sizing

Selecting the correct coupling for the application is critical for gear coupling reliability. Use the following steps to help make the selection process easier:

Choose the coupling style and design (Fast’s, Series H or Waldron; flex and rigid halves; close coupled or floating shaft; gear tee

How to Prevent Bearings from Overheating

2012-03-26T08:44:43-05:00

"Should all greased bearings be fitted with a vent (spring-loaded or other)? Most of the 3,500 rpm pillow blocks that I maintain have no vent, and the relubrication schedule was arrived at by ‘tribal council.’ The bearings heat up from about 104 degrees F to around 165 degrees F for about two days after relubrication and then return to normal (104 degrees F) conditions for the rest of the month. Will a vent help?"

The issue of overheating is related to fluid friction, which is a result of fluid churning. This is a secondary effect of overfilling the cavity at the time of relubrication. Installing a relief vent port can help in this situation, but this would be only addressing the symptom rather than the cause.

Two issues need to be addressed. First is the matter

ELM to Offer Contract Blending of Greases and Lubricants

2012-03-06T09:03:11-06:00

Environmental Lubricants Manufacturing Inc. (ELM) recently announced its decision to offer contract blending and packaging services to the industry in addition to handling the manufacturing for its branded and private label customers.

“ELM has an excess production capacity of between 5 to 10 million pounds at this time, and we would like to put that to good use,” said Alan Burgess, ELM’s operations manager. “We’ve found that offering these new services is a win-win. We’re very pleased to be able to offer these services as a viable option for businesses that don’t have a need for huge batch orders and can’t wait for weeks on end to get their orders delivered.”

Since 2000, ELM has been the only U.S.-based manufacturer and packager exclusively focused on bio-based lubricants and greases. Historically, ELM manufactured and packaged its proprietary and private label products for leading lubricant retailers in the United St

What Is Lubrication?

2012-02-16T14:08:53-06:00

Lubrication is a word that’s often used in regards to machinery reliability and maintenance, but what is lubrication? The dictionary defines lubrication as the application of some oily or greasy substance in order to diminish friction. Although this is a valid definition, it fails to realize all that lubrication actually achieves.

Many different substances can be used to lubricate a surface. Oil and grease are the most common. Grease is composed of oil and a thickening agent to obtain its consistency, while the oil is what actually lubricates. Oils can be synthetic, vegetable or mineral-based as well as a combination of these. The application determines which oil, commonly referred to as the base oil, should be used. In extreme conditions, synthetic oils can be beneficial. Where the environment is of concern, ve

Storing Grease to Avoid Bleed and Separation

2012-02-16T09:48:06-06:00

When storing grease and even during use, a certain amount of oil bleed will develop. Although it is common, the rate at which this bleeding occurs can be controlled through proper storage and usage techniques. Before looking at these strategies, it is important to understand the make-up of grease and the types of oil release that can take place.

Grease Composition

Grease = 70 to 95 percent base oil + 3 to 30 percent thickener system + 0 to 10 percent additives.

In general, a grease is a solid to semifluid product that consists of a dispersion of a thickening agent in a liquid lubricant. This thickener system can be made up of either simple or complex metal soaps of lithium, calcium, aluminum, barium or sodium, or non-soap such as clay (bentone) or polyurea. The thickener system can be thought of as a sponge that contains a matrix of

Why a Grease's Base Oil Viscosity is Important

2012-02-01T10:33:45-06:00

"Is it important to consider the viscosity of the oil used to make a particular grease if they both have the same NLGI 2 rating?"

It is critical to consider the base oil viscosity when selecting a grease. The NLGI number relates to the consistency of the grease, not its viscosity per se. It is possible to create NLGI #2 grease using ISO VG 10 base oil or ISO VG 1000 base oil. One would never use ISO VG 10 oil in an application that demands ISO VG 1000.

We shouldn't casually consider the base oil requirement when selecting grease. As an example, open gear greases are frequently NLGI #0 or #00, but they are made using very high viscosity base oil.

Controlling Degradation in Biodegradable Greases

2012-01-23T09:11:24-06:00

During lubricant operation, temperature, pressure and load are the main factors influencing degradation. To monitor this degradation process in lubricating oils, industry has defined specific test methods involving correct sampling and analytical techniques to provide efficient information on the correct oil change interval. Applying these condition monitoring practices to lubricating greases is much more complex, especially when they are ester-based biodegradable greases. This explains why industry relies on time-based intervals (preventive maintenance) for grease-lubricated system procedures.

In order to establish a correct maintenance protocol, it is important to understand how the degradation process occurs in biodegradable and mineral greases, and to identify adequate control parameters, limits and sampling frequency (or regreasing frequency).

Oxidation Process

To evaluate the different techniques, a mineral grease and a biodegradable grease were oxidiz

Champion Receives GSA Approval for Lubricants

2011-12-22T08:48:27-06:00

Champion has been awarded a General Services Administration (GSA) Schedule 51-V Contract to provide products and services to the U.S. government.

Under the five-year contract, Champion will be listed as a preferred government-approved vendor and can provide numerous types of gasoline and diesel motor oils, brake fluids, greases, aerosols and engine additives to all of levels of government and military.

“The GSA Schedule 51-V award is validation of Champion’s commitment to offer ‘purpose-built’ solutions for its federal, state and local government customers,” said Mike Reddick, Champion vice president of sales and marketing. “We specifically designed our Schedule 51-V Contract to meet the government’s needs for top-tier chemicals and lubricants while using cutting-edge technological solutions. We look forward to continuing our support to our commercial and industrial customers while providing our government colleagues with

The Dangers of Overgreasing

2011-12-16T11:16:30-06:00

When it comes to regreasing bearings, more is not always the better option and actually can be a costly mistake. Instead, greasing should be set on a frequency with proper calculations used to determine the amount of grease needed at each relubrication. The determining factor for the amount required is based on the dimensions of the bearing or the bearing housing.

Overgreasing can lead to high operating temperatures, collapsed seals and in the case of greased electric motors, energy loss and failures. The best ways to avoid these problems are to establish a maintenance program, use calculations to determine the correct lubricant amount and frequency of relubrication, and utilize feedback instruments.

Too much grease volume (overgreasing) in a bearing cavity will cause the rotating bearing elements to begin churning

ASTM Develops New Standard Practice for Grease Sampling

2011-12-16T11:00:48-06:00

The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) recently issued Method D7718-11, providing an approved standard practice for sampling critical grease-lubricated equipment.

The new standard uses the methodology of the Grease Thief, which enables users to get a representative in-service grease sample from motor bearings, gearboxes, motor-operated valves and other critical machinery, then trend the analysis results for condition monitoring.

This analysis of in-service lubricating grease not only can aid in predicting the life and condition of the grease-lubricated component, but it also can be combined with other technologies such as infrared imaging, vibration analysis and ultrasonic vibration analysis to predict when a machine may fail.

The information obtained through thes

Lubrizol to Acquire Chemtool

2011-12-06T13:17:06-06:00

The Lubrizol Corporation has announced that it has signed an agreement to purchase Chemtool Incorporated, a leading manufacturer and supplier of custom formulated greases to the lubricant industry. The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2011 following the completion of regulatory approvals.

Founded in 1963 and headquartered in Rockton, Ill., Chemtool offers a wide variety of lubricating greases to meet customer needs in markets ranging from aviation to transportation. The company has focused on providing its customers innovative technologies and services that improve performance, extend service life, support process improvements and reduce the overall cost of running their facilities.

The transaction supports Lubrizol's vision to help its customers be more successful and is consistent with its Lubrizol Additives Custom Solutions business model. With an ever-growing number of customers choosing to outsource the manufacture of their grease products, the

Choosing the Right Grease

2011-11-23T08:10:49-06:00

"A mechanic friend suggested I use CV joint grease containing molybdenum disulfide for the front-wheel bearings of my passenger car. Should I take his recommendation?"

If in doubt about which grease to use in wheel bearings, consult the vehicle manufacturer and/or the bearing manufacturer. In general terms, light vehicle wheel bearings are adequately lubricated with an NLGI (National Lubricating Grease Institute) Grade 2 multipurpose or EP grease with a base oil viscosity of approximately 200 centistokes and meeting NLGI Service Category GC, which covers service typical of wheel bearings operated in passenger cars, trucks and other vehicles under mild to severe duty.

Greases containing moly are recommended for roller bearings subjected to very heavy loads and shock loading,

How to Fill a Grease Gun from Bulk Containers

2011-11-21T11:53:51-06:00

This video explains how to modify your grease gun so you can fill it from bulk containers. Two different procedures for filling a grease gun from a bulk container are shown.

Questions to Ask When Sourcing an Automatic Greaser

2011-11-21T11:41:34-06:00

This video details some of the questions you should be asking whenever you source an automatic greasing system. Questions include what type of operating system best suits your needs, does the lube system include a pressure gauge on the main line, does the system have high-pressure grease fittings on each individual point, does the reservoir have a revolving paddle or a follower plate on top of the grease, does the system include guarding and steel tubing, etc.

Grease Dry-out

2011-08-06T09:43:02-05:00

One of the main disadvantages of using grease over oil is the annoying tendency of grease to cake and dry out. We all know that oil has a natural tendency to drain out of the grease thickener over time. We see conspicuous evidence of this when oil puddles in unleveled grease pockets in pails of new grease. We’ve also seen the dribble of oil from stored grease cartridges and prepacked bearings on storeroom shelves.

More serious is the hardened byproduct of oil drainage that builds inside the cavities of operating bearings and gears over time. Often this takes years to develop, while in other cases the condition can reach catastrophic levels in just a few weeks. The failure can be self-propagating. As grease becomes dry, frictional forces escalate, causing concentrated heat within the bearing. The elevated heat continues to force more rapid and complete drying of the grease. In time, the grease can reach a state of consistency ranging from hard putty to sandstone, depending on

What's Too Hot for Grease Lubrication?

2011-07-13T15:05:07-05:00

"How hot is too hot for a grease-lubricated bearing?"

In the final analysis, if the bearing is hot enough to evaporate the oil off the grease between relubrication cycles, then it is too hot for grease lubrication.

The answer to this question, though, depends on several factors. Let's address a few of them.

When dealing with elevated temperatures, we should first ask, "What is the source of the heat?" Is it ambient? Is it from the process (transmitted down the shaft)? Is it wear-related?

Is it lubrication-related? These questions have a lot of impact on our selection of the grease type and in determining the appropriate answer to the question.

If the temperature is from the process or atmosphere and we know that we have to deal

Adding Grease: Know When It's Enough

2011-07-05T09:58:38-05:00

“How do you know when you have added enough grease?”

While there is no easy answer to the question of manual grease relubrication cycles and volumes, it does not have to be a mystery. The best policy, of course, is to measure the size of the bearing shaft, width and bearing outer diameter, as well as the grease gun output per stroke, then calculate the amount required.

This SKF formula is easy to use:

Gq = 0.114 DB

Where: Gq = Grease quantity in ounces

D = Bearing outside diameter in inches

B = Total bearing width in inches

If a simple formula is not available, estimate the number of shots based on the shaft diameter for bore diameters up to 6 inches. For example, estimate the number of inches in the shaft. Multiply tha

Lubricant Market Expands to Wind Turbines

2011-05-17T09:11:01-05:00

Abanaki Releases Updated Oil Skimmer Facts Handbook

2011-04-12T13:41:34-05:00

Worldwide Industrial adds grease, oil and lubricants to its marketplace

2011-04-08T08:52:48-05:00

Grease Selection: Lithium vs. Lithium Complex

2011-03-04T08:59:33-06:00

According to a recent NLGI Grease Production Survey, approximately 70 percent of the grease sold worldwide is based on either simple lithium soap or lithium complex thickener. You might ask, “Why are those thickener types so popular?” and “How do I decide which one is best for my application?” This article will provide answers to these and a few other questions.

First, let us take a historical perspective. Clarence E. Earle, an American chemical engineer, was granted U.S. Patent No. 2,274,675 on March 3, 1942, for an invention called “Lubricant Containing Lithium Salts.” This is the first description in the patent literature of a grease based on simple lithium soaps. Although the soaps described in the patent are the types typically used to produce lithium-soap-based greases today, the lithium greases described by Earle ushered in a new era in the lubricating grease industry.

Greases based on lithium soap possess many improved properti

New Polyurea Grease Prolongs Life of Electric Motors

2011-01-13T11:21:02-06:00

Responding to customer requests for an electric motor grease with a polyurea thickener, Lubrication Engineers Inc. introduced Monolec Extend EM Grease (1282). The new grease helps bearings run cooler and last longer, increases motor efficiency by decreasing drag, and offers excellent mechanical stability for a long service life – even in high-moisture environments. It is especially effective when severe industrial operating conditions, such as extreme temperatures and high speeds, are present.

Animation of Grease Thief Analyzer

2011-01-12T08:29:16-06:00

This video shows an animation of the Grease Thief Analyzer utilizing the die extrusion process to measure changes in grease consistency and flow characteristics, and preparing a thin-film substrate for subsequent lab analysis with typical oil analysis instrumentation.

Quaker Chemical Acquires Summit Lubricants

2011-01-04T08:26:54-06:00

Quaker Chemical Corporation announced January 3 that it has acquired Summit Lubricants Inc., a leading specialty grease manufacturer, effective December 31, 2010. The purchase price of $30 million approximates Summit Lubricants' anticipated 2011 net sales. The acquisition is expected to be accretive to earnings in 2011.

Shell Begins Construction of its Largest Grease Manufacturing Plant

2010-12-14T09:46:26-06:00

On December 14, Shell started construction of its largest grease manufacturing plant worldwide (by volume) at a groundbreaking ceremony in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, in China. The plant is a new addition to Shell’s lubricants manufacturing complex at Zhuhai.

Wire Rope Lubricator Reduces Costs, Promotes Safety and Efficiency

2010-11-12T14:07:03-06:00

Fluid Defense Systems has introduced the GREASE SAFE Wire Rope Lubricator, a fast, effective and safe way of lubricating wire ropes for longer life and safer operation.

New LE Polyurea Grease Prolongs Life of Electric Motors

2010-11-10T09:02:00-06:00

Responding to customer requests for an electric motor grease with a polyurea thickener, Lubrication Engineers has introduced Monolec Extend EM Grease (1282). The new grease helps bearings run cooler and last longer, increases motor efficiency by decreasing drag, and offers excellent mechanical stability for a long service life – even in high-moisture environments. It is especially effective when severe industrial operating conditions, such as extreme temperatures and high speeds, are present.

Fighting Friction on the International Space Station

2010-10-18T06:54:31-05:00

In November 2008, the Space Shuttle Endeavor visited the International Space Station to do some important repair work. A critical part of the mission was to service the station’s two rotary joints, which allow its solar-cell arrays to track the sun. Wear and damage because of friction had rendered the joints inoperable. The fix required an hours-long spacewalk and a delicate technical procedure.

Petro-Canada Makes Enhancements to Line of Food-Grade Lubricants

2010-09-15T10:28:48-05:00

Petro-Canada on September 15 announced enhancements to the PURITY FG with MICROL product line with the introduction of PURITY FG2 with MICROL MAX grease. As part of the first industrial strength food grade lubricant line to contain MICROL – an antimicrobial preservative registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for use in food grade lubricants – PURITY FG2 with MICROL MAX has the required industry credentials and fits perfectly in HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) and GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) plans.

Synco Chemical Marks 30 Years of Lubricant Manufacturing

2010-04-26T14:31:06-05:00

While it may be hard to believe in today’s service-based economy, there still are manufacturers thriving on Long Island, N.Y. In Synco Chemical Corporation’s case, growth and success has persisted for three decades. What makes the 30th anniversary even more significant for the manufacturer of Super Lube synthetic greases and oils is the fact that the company has retained some of its original employees and has never had a layoff. Furthermore, the company’s founders – president Sal Randisi Sr. and his wife, treasurer Hilda Randisi – never once thought about moving the company from its 18,000-square-foot Bohemia, N.Y., headquarters to a lower operating cost geographical area. This is despite the fact that Synco is now marketing its products in more than 40 countries worldwide.

Clear Grease Gun Plus Battery Power Equals Convenient Solution

2010-04-12T13:07:33-05:00

For maintenance personnel and others seeking a solution to the costly problems of grease misapplication and cross-contamination, Lubrication Engineers Inc. offers its Clear Grease Gun in pistol grip and lever style versions as well as its newest option – the convenient battery-powered Clear Grease Gun.

The Rights and Wrongs of Greasing: From Selection to Application

2010-04-08T15:11:19-05:00

Greasing is more of an exact science than not, stemming from weighing a shot of grease from your grease gun to calculating regrease volumes and frequencies. Greasing is one of the more simple lubrication tasks in execution, but it can be just as difficult as taking a proper oil sample without proper training, experience and tools. This article will explore the subject of greasing from the selection process to the application process and try to expand your perception of the dedication and precision required to get the most from each stroke of the grease gun.

Clear Grease Guns Now Available for Purchase Online

2010-03-15T09:25:36-05:00

After launching its Clear Grease Guns product line in March 2009 and achieving a solid first year of sales, Lubrication Engineers Inc. is bolstering its investment with a complete revamping of the microsite dedicated to this product line, including the addition of e-commerce capability.

Comparing Petroleum Grease vs. Synthetic Grease

2010-02-25T08:44:59-06:00

This video provides a technical explanation of the difference between petroleum grease and synthetic grease.

Access this 7-minute, 48-second video by clicking on the link below.

Technologies, Techniques for Acoustic/Ultrasonic Regreasing

2010-02-19T09:25:09-06:00

This short article demystifies the technologies and techniques surrounding acoustic regreasing as an effective lubrication practice.

General Guidelines to Starting an Electric Motor Lube Program

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Rolling-element bearings used in electric motors can fail for many reasons. This article discusses effective strategies for minimizing failures caused by incorrect lubricant selection, contamination, loss of lubricant and overgreasing.

What's New With NLGI-ELGI Joint Working Groups?

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

The National Lubricating Grease Institute (NLGI) and the European Lubricating Grease Institute (ELGI) have long partnered in several joint working groups for advancement in areas such as: grease cleanliness, food-grade greases and grease shelf life. This article provides an update on these particular groups from the individual chairs, Joe Kaperick and Anuj Mistry.

Grease Cleanliness Working Group Update
The Grease Cleanliness Working Group continues to make good progress in defining a system for categorizing the cleanliness of grease as well as beginning work on developing robust methodologies for measuring this property. This group has held discussions at both the NLGI and ELGI annual meetings and, more recently, by teleconference to address these areas.

Background: The working group has agreed to the following draft definition of grease cleanliness: "A measure of the suitability of a grease to be used in such applications in which

Tips on Finding the Best Shade of Green in Lubricants

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

The biodegradable and bio-based lubricants market is growing at a rate well in excess of traditional lubricants. Most of this growth is occurring in Europe and has been spurred by government mandates, legislation and regulation originating in the 1980s, expanding in the middle to late 1990s and continuing today. Public opinion and current initiatives such as REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals) will continue to drive markets and end-users in the direction of lubricants that have less negative impact on the environment.

Industries and applications where contact with water or environment are inevitable can benefit from the use of biodegradable and bio-based lubricants due to the reduction or minimization of negative environmental impact from unintentional spills or leaks. Applications utilizing once-through or total loss lubrication can also benefit from the use of modern biodegradable lubricants. Industries including forestry, mining, wastewat

When to Use Automatic Grease Applicators

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

If you regularly read this column, you have likely seen my articles on grease application and selection. In the past, I have focused on manual grease application. For this issue, I decided to offer opinions on the topic of automatic grease application - specifically, single-point automatic grease applicators.

There are two primary reasons to select automatic application: improved quality of lubrication and/or reducing man-hour requirements for grease application. Like most other lubrication methods, the successful use of single-point grease applicators requires some knowledge of lubrication fundamentals; many common mistakes are made. In order to get positive results from such devices, you must select the right type of applicator for a given application, install the device correctly and determine the optimum application rate.

Comparing Methods
There are certainly advantages to automatic application when compared to man

Technical Paper Abstracts For 2009 Annual Meeting

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Each year at the National Lubricating Grease Institute annual meeting, technical papers are presented on various subjects dealing with the manufacturing of greases, innovations in testing of greases, new performance-enhancing additives for greases and new thickener systems. The 76th annual meeting of NLGI will be held June 13-16 at the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson, Ariz. This year's sessions will present technical papers of interest to general industry. What follows are abstracts of just a few of these papers.

Title: "Food-Grade High-Temperature Grease"
Speaker: Tyler Housel, Inolex Chemical Company, USA
Abstract: High-viscosity synthetic esters have been used in high-temperature industrial lubricants for many years. They are effective up to 288 degrees Celsius (550 Fahrenheit) and show little evaporation or oxidative degradation compared to other common lubricant basestocks. Inolex recently developed a synthetic est

How to Use Condition Monitoring to Optimize Grease Lubrication

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

There are four primary components to precision grease lubrication for bearings: lubricant selection, application method, the volume of lubricant to be delivered, and the frequency with which it is applied. There are, of course, many different methods for specifying these values, and opinions can vary significantly as to which approach is best. For this reason, the best approach may be to use more than one method and develop a strategy that defines default values which are then fine-tuned based on feedback from visual inspections, operating temperature, acoustic monitoring and others. Due to the variability of operating conditions and machine design, it can be very difficult to be truly precise without introducing the "condition-based" component to the formula.

Condition-based lubrication should be part of any world-class program, and the subject of condition-based grease lubrication is gaining more and more interest. By acquiring knowledge of the fundamental

Best-Practice Basics for Grease Guns

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Today, several technologies exist for the relubrication of machine components. A grease gun is one of the most common. The purpose of the grease gun is to apply lubricant through an orifice to a specific point, usually with the aid of a special fitting. Grease guns are manufactured for a number of different applications, and the most common styles include lever, pistol-grip, hand-grip, air-powered and battery-powered models. The lever style is the most economic and, therefore, the most widely used of all the grease guns.

An Essential Tool in Trained Hands
One of the most overlooked and under-credited tools in a maintenance shop, a single grease gun can bring an entire manufacturing facility to its knees if used improperly. A basic step that is often overlooked is training the lubrication technician on the proper use of the grease gun. A high-pressure grease gun can deliver pressures up to 15,000 psi. Can you imagine putting a bearing on the sh

Education, Networking and More At Annual Meeting

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

The 2009 National Lubricating Grease Institute annual meeting will be held June 13-16 at the Lowes Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson, Ariz. Located at the foot of the Catalina Mountains, this site offers something for everyone. When not participating in one of the many NLGI organized events that are part of the three-day meeting – including technical papers, education courses and lubricant certification tests – you can check out one of the two championship golf courses on site, play tennis until dusk on the lighted tennis courts, spend a relaxing day at the full-service spa, explore the mountain trails or enjoy dinner at the Ventana Room, Tucson’s only AAA Five Diamond restaurant.

The NLGI annual meeting is internationally attended by leaders in the grease industry. They represent manufacturers, chemical suppliers, engineering services, marketing organizations and end-users of grease. This vast knowledge base of grease expertise is assembled for three days and allow

The Skinny on Grease Compatibility

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

When it comes to lubrication in industrial plants, most maintenance people strive for consistency – the use of the same products over a long period of time. This generally allows for smooth operation of equipment. Sometimes, though, conditions dictate a change from one lubricant to another. In the case of lubricating oils, it is often possible to change the fluid completely; and when that is not possible, the compatibility of the fluids can be relatively easily determined.

In grease-lubricated applications, on the other hand, it is usually impossible to remove all of the old grease from the application when changing products. Grease suppliers typically advise their customers to purge as much of their grease as possible through the grease-dispensing system and application to displace the previously used product. However, this may not be necessary if the two greases in question are compatible with one another.

Unlike the compatibility of oils, which is most often rel

Lubricant Failure = Bearing Failure

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Rolling element bearings are highly reliable components, and the vast majority of bearings will outlive the equipment on which they are installed. However, while bearings account for a relatively small percentage of all equipment breakdowns, they do fail occasionally. And when they fail, it is usually a critical event, resulting in costly repair and downtime.

When bearings fail, only a small number of failures are caused by material fatigue. Most failures are caused by a condition that usually can be prevented. Typically, the causes of bearing failure can be traced to:

Harsh operating conditions
Faulty storage, handling and installation
Poor lubrication

This article focuses on bearing failures associated with lubrication problems.

Avoiding Lubricant Failures
Bearings fail for many reasons, but improper lubrication is at

Celebrating 75 Years

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

NLGI recently celebrated 75 years of providing information pertinent to the manufacture and use of lubricating grease. The 75th annual meeting was held in Williamsburg, Va., in June, and was attended by more than 400 manufacturers, suppliers, technicians and end-users from more than 15 countries.

The opening-session keynote speaker, Brian O’Malley, gave an outstanding presentation on the human spirit by illustrating the importance of living life to its fullest. O’Malley gained his experiences by climbing Mount Everest, and serving the community as a paramedic, firefighter and police officer.

Annual Meeting

Panel discussions were held on two topics:

molybdenum disulfide in current and future original equipment manufacturer performance specifications

Lubricating Electric Motors

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

In a previous article for Machinery Lubrication magazine on the subject of electric motor lubrication, all of the static and dynamic test results were run on what was considered the industry-leading polyurea long-life electric motor grease.

The motor-stopped and motor-running test conditions were repeated with a new low-noise polyurea grease from another major U.S. lubricants supplier to determine if its formulation provided any performance advantages over the previous test grease.

Table 1 summarizes some of the key properties of both test greases as provided in the public domain literature from both suppliers.

Table 1. Properties of Test Greases

Test Condition 5: Motor stopped; cold start; low-noise polyurea
The industry-leading polyurea grease was

Reach - A U.S. Perspective on Chemical Control Legislation

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

The clock is ticking down for North American companies that export chemicals to the European Union (EU). The six-month window for the preregistration phase of the REACH chemical control legislation started on June 1. Companies exporting at least one metric ton (MT) of a chemical substance to the EU need to take urgent actions if they have not already done so. REACH requires that all chemical substances manufactured in the EU or imported to the EU at quantities of at least one MT be registered (see sidebar).

Preregistration
Although there are some exemptions, almost all lubricants and additives are caught in the preregistration and registration requirements. In order to carry out a preregistration, a company must have an EU-based company submit the necessary information to the European Chemicals Agency. Lubricants can contain as many as 20 to 30 chemical substances, each of which may need to be preregistered se

Introducing the Latest Word on Grease

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Are you aware that some calcium-thickened greases may start to melt and break down at 95°C (200°F), while some complex or clay-thickened greases can approach 260°C (500°F) intact? Did you know that polyurea-thickened greases are inherently less susceptible to oxidation than their metal ion-containing brethren thickened with soaps?

How about the historical fact that traces of materials similar to those used to form today's complex greases were found on chariot hubs from as far back as 1400 B.C.? These bits of information and more can be found in one compact and easy-to-understand handbook, the NLGI Lubricating Grease Guide (LGG), which was originally published nearly 25 years ago.

In the past, matters of lubrication training on the shop floor had been left to either the technician being replaced or the guy working at the next bench. It happened similarly in the original equipment (OE) design area. This results in

Grease Basics

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) defines lubricating grease as: "A solid to semifluid product of dispersion of a thickening agent in liquid lubricant. Other ingredients imparting special properties may be included" (ASTM D 288, Standard Definitions of Terms Relating to Petroleum).

Grease Anatomy
As this definition indicates, there are three components that form lubricating grease. These components are oil, thickener and additives. The base oil and additive package are the major components in grease formulations, and as such, exert considerable influence on the behavior of the grease. The thickener is often referred to as a sponge that holds the lubricant (base oil plus additives).

Is Your Grease Expert Really an Expert?

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

The best means of ensuring quality of professional services or products are through certification programs. The National Lubricating Grease Institute (NLGI) has provided a forum for research and education and has actively participated in the development of technical standards since its inception. As a natural extension of these activities, NLGI also manages programs for professional certification as well as product certification for automotive greases.

The NLGI offers education courses that provide a wide spectrum of knowledge related to lubricating greases. Instruction topics include manufacturing methods, chemistry of ingredient (base oils, additives, thickener reactants), grease types, grease applications, grease properties and testing, and the grease market. The NLGI also publishes a Grease Guide that provides basic information in many of these areas.

The information provided in the courses, along with the literature, furnishes the ba

Grease Goes Historic

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

The National Lubricating Grease Institute, the trade organization for the lubricating grease industry, turns 75 this year! Come help us celebrate at the 75th NLGI annual meeting at Colonial Williamsburg Lodge in Williamsburg, Virginia. The meeting will take place June 7 through 10, 2008. Walk along the path of freedom and linger in the footsteps of the ordinary men and women who created a new country.

Activities
Recently, the Williamsburg Lodge was completely renovated with numerous property enhancements and accommodations reminiscent of a southern family home. This historic area, the birthplace of our nation, has much to offer. Tee off at the Golden Horseshoe Golf Club or enjoy spa services at the Spa of Colonial Williamsburg. There are also numerous activities offered for ch

Putting Too Much Faith in Multipurpose Grease

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Even in the most simple production environments, there is usually a reason for selecting several different greases to account for varying operating conditions, similar to using different oils. But time and time again, I find companies using one multipurpose grease, either through a lack of knowledge or misguided advice.

That's not to say that greases formulated and marketed as multipurpose greases are inherently bad; they are not. Unfortunately, the over-reliance on these products can cause real problems.

General Example
To understand this issue, consider the selection of the appropriate lubricating oils for a steam turbine operating at 3,000 rpm, and a multistage gear reducer with an output shaft speed of 20 rpm. For the steam turbine, the logical selection would be a rust and oxidation (R&O)-inhibited turbine, probably with an ISO viscosity grade of 32 or 46 centistokes (cSt).

The logic behind selecting the R&a

Selecting the Right Grease Condition-monitoring Tests

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

In response to changing process requirements in power stations, process control valves need to operate remotely and/or automatically. In the case of large steam and water systems, these are typically motor-operated valves (MOV) that have an AC or DC electric motor to provide mechanical power. These motors are mated to a gearbox turning a stem nut that moves the valve stem.

One manufacturer of these units utilizes a bronze worm gear working with a steel pinion gear. The stem nuts are typically bronze as well, but the valve stem can be constructed of 410 stainless steel. These parts, as well as the bearings and a limit switch gearbox, all require grease lubrication (Figure 1).

Figure 1. One Type of Motor-operated Valve Actuator

The Benefits of Testing
Testing of g

Designing Grease Distribution Systems

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Is bigger always better? Not in the case of grease distribution systems. This article explores some of the more common problems with designing grease distribution systems, highlighting several issues that could lead to improper sizing.

Bulk vs. Individual Containers
Three major factors that must be considered when choosing the method of receipt for grease include operational needs, grease consumption by type and volume, and total cost impact. For instance, the volume may be large, but if several greases are used at various times, a bulk system may not be the best choice. Changeover expense and the risk of adverse affects from contamination between greases may outweigh the cost savings normally achieved with bulk deliveries. Furthermore, if flexibility of the operation requires usage units to access separate greases at different times, a central system and bulk grease would be more of a detriment than a benefit

Grease-lubricated Electric Motors - a New Perspective

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Over the past few years, there has been a renewed interest in the industry regarding the proper lubrication methods for grease-lubricated electric motors.

This article reviews the results from laboratory testing of a grease-lubricated NEMA-frame, 3,600 rpm electric motor manufactured to IEEE 841 standards and equipped with open deep-groove ball bearings and grease relief valves on bearing housing outlets.

Results and conclusions from this work were confirmed in the field and will be the basis for modification of a DuPont lubrication engineering standard covering electric motor lubrication.

Figure 1. IEEE 841 Test Motor

Background
DuPont lubrication standard "PL 43 - Lubrication of Electric Motors"

Can Grease Cleanliness Be Defined?

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Grease cleanliness is a common topic of discussion among grease suppliers, bearing manufacturers and end users, all of whom tend to hold strong opinions on the subject. Numerous technical papers as well as magazine articles have addressed both the importance of cleanliness in greases as well as the frustration over the lack of an industry-accepted definition or measure of cleanliness.

The Draft Definition
To address these concerns, a joint working group has met at both NLGI and ELGI annual meetings for the past several years. Recently, in light of the various ways of defining and measuring grease cleanliness, the group has agreed on a draft definition to ensure focused efforts.

Before defining the term, the group had to sort through a series of cleanliness classifications based on specified levels of filtration and/or packaging. Other definitions were derived from existing ASTM, DIN or

Grease Industry Trends

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Grease, as it is looked upon today, is a relatively new science. In 1400 B.C., mutton or beef fat was sometimes mixed with lime to reduce the friction in chariot wheels.¹ Under the correct conditions, heating lime and fat in oil will form a grease. Modern greases, however, were not commercially available until more than 3,300 years later.

The first grease produced in volume was a calcium soap grease.² Lithium, barium and calcium complex greases were introduced in the 1930s and 1940s.³ Aluminum complex greases followed in the early 1950s, but modern lithium complex greases did not enter the market until the early 1960s.⁴

The National Lubricating Grease Institute (NLGI) has collected production data from grease manufacturers since the early 1960s. Some interesting trends can be noted in reviewing this historical data.⁵

Accurate Monitoring of Grease Lubrication Points

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Industry utilizes many different bearing configurations. Some of these bearings are sealed and initially lubricated while others require regular maintenance lubrication. The consequences of a bearing failure vary between application; for instance, in some applications a failure can result in costly repairs and lengthy downtime of production. In the worst-case scenario, a bearing failure can release large mass forces resulting in devastating damages and even loss of lives.

Grease Lubrication
Assalub has created an independent system for monitoring grease lubrication points, the LubeMon. It is capable of monitoring both automatic and manually greased points. It can be used to monitor individual vital points or an entire lubrication system.

NLGI Annual General Meeting 2007

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Each year at the NLGI Annual General Meeting, technical papers are presented on various subjects dealing with the manufacturing of greases, innovations in testing of greases, new performance-enhancing additives for greases and new thickener systems. The 74th Annual General Meeting for the National Lubricating Grease Institute will be held June 10th through 12th at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, in Scottsdale, Arizona.

This year, the sessions will present numerous technical papers of interest to the general industry. The following are abstracts of some of the papers being presented this year.

Abstracts
Title: Approval Process for a Certified Post Tensioning Grease
Author: Glen Brunette

This paper discusses the post tensioning cable industry and the process of approving grease for use as a coating for post tensioning cables. Background is given on the post tensioning indus

Grease in the Fast Lane

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

NLGI, an organization for the lubricating grease industry, is pleased to announce its 2007 annual meeting will be held at The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess from June 9th through June 12th in Scottsdale, Arizona. "Grease in the Fast Lane" will be the 74th annual meeting for NLGI and the first to take place in June rather than October. The meetings focus on quality technical presentations and NLGI's unique grease education program. This is the perfect opportunity for lubricating grease users and experts to network and exchange ideas in an atmosphere conducive to further business development.

Global Perspective
Attendance is always international, and of the 25 to 30 papers presented, many are written by authors outside of the United States. The papers are generally grouped according to subject matter and general interests including sessions involving grease manufacture, marketing, technical informati

Synthetic Greases Gain Wider Appeal

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Recently, synthetic greases have found greater use in rotating equipment. Long considered the lubricant of choice for applications involving extreme temperatures, loads and speeds, synthetic greases are becoming a more viable option for bearings and other components facing medium-duty operating requirements.

There are two main reasons for synthetics' increased popularity. The first involves the availability of new products and formulations. Synthetic greases are currently offered with additional viscosities and consistencies, and even come in "green" or biodegradable varieties. The broader selection allows maintenance and lubrication professionals to consider synthetic greases for a wider range of applications.

The second reason is affordability. Synthetic grease costs have not increased as rapidly as conventional petroleum-based greases, thereby reducing the cost differential between the two grease categories. As a result,

What is NLGI?

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

NLGI is a not-for-profit organization that serves the lubricating grease industry. The first National Lubricating Grease Institute meeting took place on June 29, 1933 in Chicago, Illinois. The meeting was initiated by J.R. Battenfeld of Battenfeld Grease and Oil Corporation, W.H. Saunders of International Lubricant Corporation, and Guy Peters of Peters Oil Craft Incorporated. NLGI's current objectives remain similar to the objectives established more than 70 years ago. Its mission is to distribute information pertinent to the manufacture and use of lubricating grease. Today, NLGI has more than 200 member companies representing 26 countries worldwide. Members include grease manufacturers, additive suppliers, distributors, OEMs, end users, educators and equipment manufacturers.

Standards and Systems
In 1939, the institute developed a standard classification for grease penetration numbers that re

Systematically Selecting the Best Grease For Equipment Reliability

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Grease is the lubricant of choice for millions of bearings and machine elements. Yet, the selection and specifications of grease compositions and properties require careful consideration of certain guidelines for optimum performance and long life.1,2

While concentrating on grease for bearing applications, the guidelines provided here should also be useful for other machine elements. In addition to lubrication, auxiliary grease needs may include rust protection, sealing and antiwear properties. Both the base oil and the thickening agent can be selected over wide ranges to match the needs in bearings as well as in gears, pivots, couplings, guides and other machine elements.

Ball and Roller Bearings. For design simplicity, decreased sealing requirements and low maintenance, grease is typically the first choice for lubricating small and medium rolling-element bearings. These include applications in electric motors, household appliances

The Enduring Grease vs. Oil Debate

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Understanding Calcium Sulfonate Thickeners

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

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

Recommendations for Mixing Greases

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

How to Monitor Grease Degradation

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Regular readers of Practicing Oil Analysis magazine will be well-versed in the use of oil analysis to determine thermal and oxidative degradation in used oils. Tests such as acid number (AN), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and the rotating pressure vessel oxidation test (RPVOT) should be commonplace in any well-designed oil analysis program, allowing oil analysis practitioners to scientifically determine when a condition-based oil change is warranted.

Conversely, little effort has been made to determine how similar analytical techniques can be applied to lubricating greases. While it is a challenge to obtain a representative sample of in-service greases, simple scientific logic suggests that the rate of oxidation of a grease should be measurable to the oxidation of lubricating oils: after all, a grease has the same or similar additives as those found in convent

Step-by-Step Grease Selection

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

How do you know if you’re using the right grease? You might be using a high-quality grease. You may have put a lot of effort and money into selecting the best quality grease in the pursuit of lubrication excellence. But don’t confuse the quality of the lubricant with the quality of the specification. Considering this lubricating oil analogy, the best quality turbine oil would most likely not make a good engine oil.

Most users are aware of the importance of selecting the right lubricant for a given application. When it comes to selecting lubricating oils for manufactured equipment, it’s easy to determine which products meet the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) requirements. OEM specifications for a lubricating oil normally include viscosity at operating or ambient temperature, additive requirements, base oil type and even special cons

How to Design an Electric Motor Regreasing Program

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Rolling element bearings used in electric motors have many failure causes such as incorrect bearing selection, improper bearing fits, poor handling during installation, improper installation techniques, excessive thrust loads, loss of lubricant, contamination and overgreasing.

Grease volume control has been a long-standing problem for industry, and simply following OEM recommendations may not be enough to solve this problem.

A motor relubrication practice was developed by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) in 1992 and is widely used by the nuclear power industry today. The program was designed to m

Automatic Lubricator Reaches Remote Locations

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

The Savannah River Site is located in the southeastern coastal area of the United States. Located in South Carolina, it is bordered to the west by the Savannah River. As a U.S. government Department of Energy facility, it provides safe management of nuclear materials and the environment. The Site Utilities Department (SUD) is a department within Solid Waste and Infrastructure that is within the Operations business unit of the Savannah River Site.

In 2002, the SUD installed single-point automatic lubricators on the coal transfer screw conveyor i

Centralized Grease Lubrication Systems

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Centralized grease lubrication systems are widely used in industrial and heavy-duty mobile equipment applications to lubricate multiple points on a machine. These systems range from a simple single-port lubricator to complex dual-line, reversing units employing timers and alarms to deliver grease reliably to hundreds of grease points.

The design parameters of centralized grease systems include the volume and frequency of grease required at each point, the number of points requiring grease, operating conditions, pump pressure, line diameter and distance to the grease points. When used and maintained properly, centralized grease systems can help enhance technician productivity and simplify equipment maintenance processes. The following is a comprehensive overview of centralized grease systems and the ben

Changing Greasing Habits with Predictive Maintenance

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Optimizing Maintenance Efficiencies With an Effective Greasing Program

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Test Rig Uses Noise to Measure Grease Cleanliness

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Today’s business climate makes it important for customers to get the most from their bearings; namely long bearing service life and low noise performance. These requirements mean that techniques are needed to help ensure that the necessary lubricant cleanliness levels and conditions are being met. To fulfill these needs, a new product, the SKF BeQuiet+ tester, has been developed. It assesses the quality of the lubricant with regard to cleanliness and damping characteristics. Lubricant manufacturers use the test rig as a tool for their lubricant development as well as for production control. The BeQuiet+ is also recommended to bearing producers as a means of selecting the best lubricant on the market and for incoming batch control, and to end-users as a way

Grease Gun Buyers Guide

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Proper lubrication is essential to maintaining the life of your equipment. Grease guns and grease fittings are widely used in today’s industry and offer a simple means to lubricate machinery. The origin of this innovation goes back to the early 1900s.

Backtracking Through History
Arthur Gulborg was a son of a co-owner of a small die-casting plant in Chicago. His job was to relubricate the die casting machines by refilling their oil cups several times a day. This labor-intensive task led him to invent the grease gun (screw type) and grease fitting in 1916. He invented the fitting, a braided metal hose having a special end connection, and screw-type grease gun. Arthur Gulborg and his father named it “The Alemite High-Pressure Lubricating System&rdqu

Lubrication Strategies for Electric Motor Bearings

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

The proprietary in-house statistics of a number of petrochemical plants in the United States indicate that approximately 60 percent of all motor difficulties originate with bearing troubles. If a bearing defect is allowed to progress to the point of failure, far more costly motor rewinding and extensive downtime will often result. Improvements in bearing life should not be difficult to justify, especially if it can be readily established that most incidents of bearing distress are caused by lubrication deficiencies.

There is some disagreement among electric motor manufacturers as to the best bearing arrangement for horizontal-type, grease-lubricated, ball bearing motors. There is also di

Developing a Motor Bearing Regreasing Strategy

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Question
You have just been hired as a maintenance engineer for a large manufacturing plant. The plant has a history of never greasing electric motor bearings, believing that this practice does more harm than good. The plant has a mix of motors, some of which have been in service for 10 years, others just a few months. Depending on motor manufacturer, speed and horsepower, there is everything from sealed and shielded bearings to open bearings. How would you go about developing a regreasing strategy for these motors?

The Winning Answer
First, establish a way of tracking each motor as an asset. Develop a preventive maintenance (PM) program in your computerized maintenance

Grease Relubrication Improvements at a Duracell Plant

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

How Grease Kills

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Grease Gun Safety - How to Protect Against High-Pressure Grease Gun Accidents

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Maximizing Grease Performance Through Optimal Compatibility - An Overview of Compatibility Testing

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Easy Testing for Grease Thickness

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Grease - How Much is Too Much?

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Is it Time to Buy 'Quiet'? - Perfecting Grease Cleanliness

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Greasing Bearings: It's a Whole New Ball Game

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Accurate Grease Volume - Every Time

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Does the Squeaky Wheel Get the Grease?

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Getting the Most from Single-Point Lubricators

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

High-Temperature Greases

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00
There are many criteria to consider when selecting a high-temperature grease for hot, grease-lubricated equipment. The selection must include consideration of oil type and viscosity and a host of other criteria.

Grease Guns - Learning the Basics

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Grease Analysis - Monitoring Grease Servicability and Bearing Condition

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Approximately 90 percent of all bearings are lubricated with grease. But how much do you know about the grease or greased bearings in your plant? Grease analysis is certainly not for every bearing . . . maybe it’s not even for most bearings. But when you have a need to know, a thorough analysis of the grease in question can prevent headaches and save money.

Historically, the analysis of grease has been confined to new grease testing for product acceptance and quality control. Technically, this was due to the sample size required to perform conventional ASTM (American Society of Testing and Materials) methods on grease samples. However, over the last couple of decades, new analytical methods have made it possible to profile the serviceability of grease using as few milligrams of sample as possible (0.00003527 of an ounce).

Selecting a General Purpose Grease Without Compromising Performance

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Converting Bearings from Grease-Lubricated to Oil-Lubricated

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Specialty Grease Boosts Corrugator's Productivity

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Electric Motor Bearing Lubrication Faces New Challenges

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Do You Know Your Grease Gun?

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

The grease gun can be an effective tool or a dangerous weapon, depending on how it is used. You need to know the output per stroke of your grease gun in order to know how much grease you are adding each time you relubricate.

Grease guns generally produce from one to three grams of grease per stroke. The actual output can vary from gun to gun. Measure the actual output from each gun and use that measurement to determine how many strokes to apply.

Three Ways to Prevent Over Lubrication of Bearings
1. Calculate the exact amount that the bearing needs using the bearing s

Automated Lubrication - Benefits and Design Options

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Used Grease Analysis Integrated into Critical Equipment Inspection Deferral Programs

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

The analysis of used lubricating grease has become a benchmark procedure as part of the UK Health and Safety Executive guidelines on managing the safety of pedestal cranes, specifically in the offshore exploration and production industries. The duty holder, because he is responsible for safety, receives data concerning the current status of critical plant components; in this case the slewing bearing. When the asset is deemed suitable for continued service, the duty holder can defer physical inspection. This can result in a bearing exceeding its design life without intrusive inspection and without failure.

The safety record of lifting appliances in the offshore industry has improved dramatically over the last 20 years, mos

Get a Handle on Grease Lubrication

2010-01-01T00:00:00-06:00

Confirm Proper Lubrication Using Sonic / Ultrasonic Monitoring

Multiple frequency sonic/ultrasonic analysis can be effectively used to monitor the lubrication quality of greased bearings. These systems are typically the Achilles’ heel of the lubricant condition-monitoring program. As a proactive tool, ultrasonic lubrication monitoring can eliminate under/over greasing, common root causes of failure, before costly damage occurs. Likewise, ultrasonic monitoring can detect a bad-acting bearing in the early stages of failure to facilitate scheduling of corrective actions.

While practical from a testing point of view, applying traditional oil analysis to grease lubricated bearings, it is often impractical due to the difficulty in obtaining a representative sample of grease to analyz

Mechanic Provides Tips on How to Use Grease Gun

2009-11-13T00:00:00-06:00

Grease guns have replaceable cartridges that slide into the barrel of the gun, and there's a foil that gets removed from one end of the gun, and this simply threads into the trigger part of the gun. Connect the connector and squeeze the handle to get grease to come out.

Access this 1-minute, 31-second video by clicking on the link below.

Arkansas Company Greases Wyoming, California Windmills

2009-08-21T00:00:00-05:00

Arkansas-based Leding Lubrication has found a new market for its products on the windswept northern plains and the sunny west coast.

Over the last year, more of the giant electricity-generating windmills in Wyoming and California began using portable automatic lubricators designed and built in Leding’s small shop in Van Buren, Ark.

Lincoln Earns QS-9000 Registration for Lubrication Fittings

2009-08-20T00:00:00-05:00

Lincoln, a leader in lubrication fittings, recently achieved QS-9000 registration. This quality system applies to suppliers of the automotive industry.

Based on ISO 9001, QS-9000 was developed by the Automotive Industry Action Group and also has been adopted by various truck manufacturers. Lincoln achieved registration in approximately one year. The process consisted of four steps: analysis, procedure improvement, documentation and internal auditing. Third-party registrar QMI, a division of CSA International, awarded the registration.

Pathfinder Demonstrates Grease-Based Lubricants

2009-07-22T00:00:00-05:00

Pathfinder Lubricants provides a demonstation of its grease-based lubricants.

Access this 5-minute, 36-second video by clicking on the link below.

SKF's Battery-Driven Grease Gun

2009-07-15T00:00:00-05:00

SKF has added the battery-driven grease gun LAGG 400B to its already extensive Maintenance Products range.

The SKF battery-driven grease gun, LAGG 400B, is suitable for lubricating bearings, machines, vehicles and other applications. Ergonomically designed, the new high quality grease gun can be used with all standard grease cartridges according to DIN 1284 or approximately 500 cubic centimeters (17 U.S. fluid ounces) of loose grease.

The company constantly provides existing as well as potential customers with reliable, efficient solutions, contributing to correct maintenance practices and reduced downtime. By utilizing the new SKF battery-driven grease gun, it is possible to, with minimum effort, empty a 420-milliliter cartridge, within approximately 10 minutes, significantly reducing cost and time when compared to hand-operated grease guns.

Access this 2-minute, 27-second video by clicking on the link below.

Lord TC-501 Grease Doesn't Pump Out

2009-07-09T00:00:00-05:00

Lord has announced the availability of a thermally conductive grease that does not pump out.

Lord TC-501 Grease was developed to be a no pump-out material to replace greases used as thermal interface materials (TIM) between the heat spreader and the heat sink (commonly known as TIM2).

GreaseMax Solves Electric Motor Lubrication Issues

2009-06-18T00:00:00-05:00

Lubrication improvements can significantly assist in increasing the life and reliability of electric motors. Premature motor failure is likely to be caused by bearing failure, for which lubrication is a major factor.

Lubricants have a finite life so re-lubrication is essential for long term motor reliability.

LE Launches Clear Grease Guns to Global Market

2009-05-26T00:00:00-05:00

Lubrication Engineers Inc. (LE) was appointed as the global distributor of Clear Grease Guns. These patented clear grease tubes allow users to have 100 percent visual grease identification, therefore avoiding costly grease cross-contamination errors. Grease guns on the market do not allow the grease to be seen meaning that proper grease identification is not possible. The clear grease tubes provide a simple, cost-effective reliability solution to eliminating grease misapplication mistakes. The dedicated Clear Grease Guns Web site provides customers with detailed information on this exciting new reliability offering from LE.

Grease Flow in a MOV Limitorque Operator

2009-05-18T00:00:00-05:00

This video shows the flow of an NLGI 1 grade grease in an operating MOV Limitorque operator, as shown through a videoscope inserted into the gearbox through a removed top plug. The flow is alternated from forward to backward cycles, and the flow direction can be seen to change. The video demonstrates the ability to target a specific location relative to the plug access point, that will be representative of the grease flowing to the lubricated components.

Access this 3-minute, 7-second video by clicking on the link below.

Grease's Benefits on all Movable Vehicle Parts

2009-01-30T00:00:00-06:00

This video features a Lincoln, Neb., business owner who outlines the benefits he has seen by using Rhino Grease on all movable vehicle parts.

Access this 1-minute, 54-second video by clicking on the link below.

How to Obtain Grease Sample from Pillow Block Bearing

2009-01-26T00:00:00-06:00

This instructional video offers tips for obtaining a representative grease sample from a pillow block bearing in order to submit it for analysis.

Access this 2-minute, 9-second video by clicking on the link below.

Bad Grease Gun Maintenance in Space

2009-01-16T00:00:00-06:00

The astronaut who recently lost her tool bag on a spacewalk admitted that she made a mistake by not checking to see if the sack was tied down, and said she's still smarting over the whole thing.

Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper said in an interview with The Associated Press it was "very disheartening" to lose her bag full of tools. She was trying to clean up grease that had oozed out of a grease gun in the backpack-size bag, when the tote and everything in it floated away.

The bag was one of the largest items ever lost by a spacewalking astronaut. NASA put the price tag of the tool bag at $100,000.

Access this 30-second video by clicking on the link below.

Illuminating Grease gun? Now That's a Winning Idea

2009-01-14T00:00:00-06:00

Daniel Prough of LaGrange, Ind., on January 12 earned the grand prize in the Farmer Idea Exchange competition at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 90th annual meeting in San Antonio.

Prough’s invention, an illuminating grease gun, is a xenon flashlight mounted on a heavy-duty pistol grease gun. Having the flashlight mounted on the grease gun makes it much easier to pump the gun and hold the grease tip at the same time. The illuminating grease gun saves time when lubing equipment because there is no need to find a flashlight and then try to b

Providing a Purge Path for Grease

2009-01-13T00:00:00-06:00

This video shows how to utilize the Grease Thief to provide a purge path for grease for certain electric motor bearings, and to capture a sample for subsequent analysis.

Access this 2-minute, 15-second video by clicking on the link below.