Future Proofing the Grease Industry

    Future Proofing the Grease Industry

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    The Lithium Crisis

    Lithium has long been the preferred thickening agent for industrial greases, but unpredictable availability, fluctuating prices, and supply chain reliability have forced a search for alternatives. In light of these challenges in lithium supply and availability, the industrial grease community at large has been focusing on identifying and applying alternative thickening chemistries.

    For the past three years, Lubrizol has devoted extensive work and testing to develop real solutions for this need. Two alternative candidates to lithium-thickened greases have emerged with significant potential.

    For the past three years, Lubrizol has devoted extensive work and testing to develop real solutions for this need. Two alternative candidates to lithium-thickened greases have emerged with significant potential:
    Dicalcium Greases

    Dicalcium Greases

    Novel dicalcium hybrid greases offer a competitive alternative to lithium complex and conventional lithium greases. These greases are cost-comparable to conventional lithium greases. These new dicalcium greases can fulfill the basic performance requirements of the NLGI’s (formerly National Lubricating Grease Institute) new High-Performance Multipurpose (HPM) grease certification for North American lubricating greases.

    Liquid Concentrated PU greases

    Concentrated diurea greases, which in their pourable liquid form can produce NLGI 3 consistency, enable grease manufacturers to enter this arena with a novel thickening chemistry. Manufacturers then will be able to finish this concentrate to the desired consistency and include performance additives that help them differentiate its formulation.

    Indeed, it is a time of unprecedented change in the industrial grease market. At Lubrizol, we are applying all of our resources to help our customers in this space navigate these changes and provide continuous support for grease manufacturers with high-performance lithium alternatives. Continued collaboration will be required among all stakeholders to find continued success in this changing marketplace.