Grease is essentially oil held in place by a thickener — like a sponge holding water. This simple concept enables lubrication in applications where liquid oil would simply drain away. But not all greases are created equal, and choosing the wrong type can lead to premature failure.
Key Grease Components: 1. Base Oil (70-95%): Determines basic lubrication properties. Can be mineral, synthetic, or semi-synthetic. 2. Thickener (5-20%): Creates the grease structure. Common types include lithium, calcium, polyurea, and bentonite. 3. Additives (0-10%): Enhance specific properties like extreme pressure protection, corrosion resistance, and oxidation stability.
NLGI Consistency Grades: Greases are rated on a scale from 000 (semi-fluid) to 6 (very hard). NLGI 2 is the most common grade for general-purpose applications. NLGI 0 and 1 are used in centralized lubrication systems where pumpability is essential.
Thickener Types and Their Applications: - Lithium: Most versatile, good water resistance, wide temperature range (-30 to 130 degrees C) - Lithium Complex: Enhanced high-temperature performance (up to 180 degrees C) - Calcium: Excellent water resistance, ideal for marine and wet environments - Polyurea: Long life, excellent for sealed-for-life bearings and electric motors - Aluminum Complex: Outstanding water washout resistance
Our i-GlooOil grease range covers lithium EP, lithium complex, calcium, and multi-purpose formulations in NLGI grades 0 through 3, suitable for automotive, industrial, marine, and construction applications.
