Greases are defined as semi-conductor lubricants containing soap or mixture of soaps and fillers dispersed in lubricating oils (petroleum oils) making it suitable for lubrication under high load and slow speed.
A grease is made up of the three following components:
- Thickening agent 5% to 20%
- Base oils 80% to 95%
- Additives 0% to 10%
The thickening agent – Be it a soap or something else – has a tremendous bearing on the grease’s performance.
As this definition indicates, there are three components that form a 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 behaviour of the grease. The thickener is often referred to as a sponge that holds the lubricant (base oil plus additives).