Superb behavior in aluminum complex grease

To support grease manufacturers eager to diversify and move away from thickeners based on lithium hydroxide, Nynas’ grease specialists studied the behaviour of NYNAS® T 600 in aluminum complex grease and found it to be an excellent choice.

“As pressures grow on the availability and price of lithium hydroxide, an increasing number of grease manufacturers are looking for alternative thickener systems, for example by using aluminum-based soap,” says Nynas’ grease specialist and Senior Technical Advisor Mehdi Fathi-Najafi.

Aluminum complex grease is a smooth gel with a slightly stringy texture. Preferably, it should be produced using high-viscosity oil, providing two important characteristics – good water resistance and good rust protection.

“However, this type of grease also needs some additives in order to improve certain behaviors, mainly relating to shear stability, low-temperature pumpability, and compatibility with other soap-based greases such as lithium and lithium complex greases,” explains Mehdi Fathi-Najafi.

In order to find the best possible balance between these strengths and weaknesses, Nynas in cooperation with MOL Lub Ltd. conducted a study comparing the behavior and suitability of NYNAS® T 600 and Bright Stock (BS) in aluminum complex greases.

“We found that NYNAS® T 600 offers an excellent choice for this type of formulation. A better thickening effect as well as improved low-temperature flowability and resistance to water were among the benefits we were able to demonstrate,” says Mehdi Fathi-Najafi.

In the comparative study, four different greases were produced based on different base oils, see table. The consistency of the greases revealed that when NYNAS® T 600 was used, the thickening effect improved significantly.

Excessive oil separation is one typical weakness of aluminum complex greases. Grease B and Grease C (based on NYNAS® T 600) showed a significantly lower degree of oil separation compared with the other greases. The lower oil separation can to some extent be attributed to the higher consistency. Despite their higher consistency, the greases based on NYNAS® T 600 also displayed impressive flow pressures at -20 ^oC.

Aluminum complex greases generally show good resistance to water. Hence, all greases performed very well in the static water spray-off test. However, in the dynamic water wash out test, the greases based on NYNAS® T 600 (B and C) showed a more than 65 percent better result.

     Table showing characteristics of the aluminum complex greases used in the comparative study.

Aluminum alternative

• The current increase in lithium-based applications, especially within the battery industry, raises concerns for grease manufacturers regarding the price volatility of lithium hydroxide. The industry is vulnerable as more than 70 percent of its global production is still based on lithium hydroxide thickener systems.
• Diversification into greases with alternative thickeners is increasingly seen as a way of mitigating the risk, and aluminum offers one such alternative.