Everything You Need to Know About Grease Lubrications

Grease lubrication is the process of using a substance called grease to reduce friction between moving parts, prevent wear and tear of machinery parts, and reduce corrosion by forming a protective barrier on metal surfaces.

What is Grease?

Grease is a solid or semi-solid substance that is used to lubricate parts of machines and automobiles. It is made of base oil (70-95%), a thickener (5-20%) and additives (0-10%). It plays a vital role in preventing friction, wear and tear of machinery parts, providing cooling, etc to machinery parts.

Type of Grease: 

There are many types of grease on the market. These are:

1. Lithium Grease: It is one of the most commonly used greases. It is a multipurpose grease which is widely popular due to its density, viscosity and stability. For example: TruTrust Lithium-based Ap3 grease (available at TruTrust Industries)
2. Polyurea Grease: Polyurea Grease is usually used in electric motors. It has a much better life expectancy than Lithium Grease. It is used in situations which do not require Extreme Pressure [EP] Additives.  
3. Aluminium Complex Grease: Aluminium Complex Grease is mainly known for its heat resistance, strong water resistance and high dropping point, making it suitable for steel and bearings.
4. Calcium Grease: It is mainly used in marine environments because it has excellent water resistance and has high anti-rust capacity.
5. Bentonite Grease: Bentonite grease does not use traditional soap form and is based on bentonite.

Features Of Grease Lubrication:-

1. Water Resistance: Grease lubrication is water resistance due to its components ( including hydrophobic base oil and special thickeners such as calcium) is used widely in marine industry due to its feature of water resistance, which makes it useful in aquatic environments.
2. Prevents Friction: Grease lubrication is popular due to its feature of preventing friction by forming a layer of oil on the machine surface, which makes it worthwhile to prevent Friction.
3. Corrosion: Grease lubrication makes a thick protective layer of oil on the machinery surface, preventing it from chemical reaction with oxygen, acids, water, etc.
4. Seal: Grease lubrication makes a seal around moving parts, preventing friction and dirt.
5. Viscosity: Grease lubrication provides density and viscosity, which makes a protective layer on machinery parts, preventing friction and ensuring smooth functioning of machines.

Importance Of Grease Lubrication:-

There are many essential aspects of grease lubrication, some of which are:-

1. Prevents Friction: The most crucial use of grease lubrication is that it prevents friction in moving parts of machinery, by oiling these parts, which helps in reducing friction and smooth functioning of machines. For example: We often grease our bicycle pedal chains, which reduces friction. These chains help in the soft pedalling of bicycles.
2. Prevents Corrosion: Another important use of grease lubrication is that it reduces corrosion (a natural process leading to destruction of metal surface due to reaction with oxygen, water or salt, etc.) It reduces corrosion by forming a thick protective layer of oil on the metal surface, preventing it from any chemical reaction.
3. Wear and tear of machinery parts: You might have noticed that after some time, machinery parts (for example: truck tyres) start wearing and tearing off. This happens when these are exposed to friction for a really long time. Grease lubrication prevents it by reducing friction, thus limiting the wear and tear of machinery parts.
4. Provides cooling: It gives cooling to machinery parts by reducing and absorbing the heat of machinery parts caused by Friction or other machinery operations.
5. Helps in cleaning: Grease lubrication helps in cleaning and removal of dirt from machinery parts, as consistent lubrication helps the dirt to come out along with oil, and acts as a sealant which blocks containment.

Applications of Grease Lubrication:-

1. Marine Application: Grease lubrication prevents corrosion, is water resistant; therefore, it is commonly used in water applications through applications like winches, steering, ship propulsion systems, etc.
2. Automobile Industry: Grease lubrication is used in the automobile industry, such as motor vehicles, cars, etc, to prevent friction, corrosion, and heating of automobile parts.
3. Manufacturing Industry: Manufacturing industry used grease lubrication in pumps, compressors, etc, to prevent rusting and ensure smooth functioning of machinery parts.
4. Heavy Equipment Industry: Heavy equipment industries such as cranes, bulldozers, etc, use grease lubrication to prevent them from wear and tear, Friction under heavy loads, dust, etc.
5. Energy Industries: Energy industries, such as wind turbines and the power generation industry, also use grease lubrication to prevent friction, corrosion, wear and tear in pumps, motors, etc.

Conclusion:-

Grease lubrication is an essential part of machinery operations as it prevents friction in machinery parts, prevents wear and tear of machinery parts, prevents corrosion, absorbs heat in machinery parts and ensures smooth functioning of machines in industries. Without these machines, the machines cannot be operated smoothly. Therefore, consistent grease lubrication is essential. Grease lubrication is used in almost all types of industries, such as the marine industry, the manufacturing industry, the food and beverages industry, the power generation industry, etc. For various grease lubrication products, such as lithium grease and gel grease, you can contact TruTrust Industries.