Lubricants play a crucial role in reducing friction between surfaces in contact during the relative motion between them. They have enabled the functioning and development of modern machinery by lowering wear and tear in their moving components. Grease are materials that are composed of base fluids and additives that are specially formulated to reduce friction and prevent damage in mechanical devices.
Types
Mineral Oil Grease
Mineral oil grease are among the most commonly used types of grease across various industries. They are produced from crude oil through the refining process and contain additives for specific applications. Common mineral oil grease include motor oil, hydraulic oil, gear oil and grease. Mineral oils offer good Lubricants properties, high film strength and thermal stability at reasonable costs. However, they have poor biodegradability and can contaminate the environment if not properly handled or disposed.
Synthetic Grease
Synthetic grease are manufactured by combining different types of chemical compounds rather than being derived from crude oil. Popular synthetic grease include polyalkylene glycol, polyol esters, polyalphaolefins, fluorocarbons and silicones. They generally demonstrate superior lubrication performance compared to mineral oils under extreme conditions like high temperatures, wide temperature ranges and heavy loads. Synthetic grease also have better oxidation stability, lower pour points and greater resistance to breakdown. However, their production involves more sophisticated processes that increase costs.
Bio-Based Lubricants
With growing environmental awareness, bio-based or biolubricants derived from renewable plant or animal sources have gained prominence in recent years. Common plant-based components used in biolubricants include vegetable oils, fatty acids and esters. They are biodegradable, non-toxic and help reduce dependency on fossil fuels. Owing to their eco-friendly qualities, bio-grease see major demand in automotive, industrial, marine and aviation applications. However, lower oxidative stability compared to mineral and synthetic oils remains a key challenge.
Applications
Automotive Grease
Grease form a vital part of engine, transmission and other components in automobiles. Engine oil lubricates internal combustion engines to protect moving parts from wear during the friction generated at high pressures and temperatures. Gear oil lubricates transmissions and differentials to enable smooth transmission of torque. Other automotive greaseinclude brake fluid, power steering fluid and greases. With rising automotive production worldwide, automotive grease make up a leading end-use segment.
Industrial Grease
In industries engaged in manufacturing, metalworking, mining, energy and construction, various types of machinery require continuous lubrication to sustain high outputs. Industrial grease include metalworking fluids, hydraulics fluids, turbine and compressor oils, greases and more. They ensure efficient functioning of machine tools, presses, compressors, turbines and other equipment operating under diverse conditions. Metalworking fluids especially play a big role in metal fabrication industries.
Marine Lubricants
Ships and ocean-going vessels require special high-performance grease to withstand extreme marine environments while sustaining equipment reliability. Propeller shaft bearings, diesel engines and gas turbines on ships require excellent anti-wear, extreme pressure and rust and corrosion inhibiting properties found in marine grease. Both mineral and synthetic varieties are widely used depending on equipment specifications and operating conditions.
As technology brings about new machineries with miniaturized components operating at higher speeds and pressures, the demand for advanced high-performance grease will grow substantially. Areas like electric vehicles, wind turbines, 3D printing and others will open new application avenues for various grease types in the coming years. Alongside, bio-grease and other sustainable solutions are expected to gain further ground backed by policies promoting cleaner technologies. Strict emission norms will also drive formulation of low-friction, low-viscosity grease. Overall, with their vital role in efficiency and reliability enhancement across industries, grease will remain indispensable to the progress of various frontier technologies. Continuous research on novel lubricating materials holds the key to shape grease evolution in the future.
*Note:
1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it.
