Main indicators of grease

The main indicators of grease include consistency or working penetration, ‌dropping point, ‌cone penetration, ‌colloidal stability, ‌oxidation stability, ‌mechanical stability, ‌evaporation loss, ‌water resistance, ‌similar viscosity and evaporation loss. ‌‌

Consistency or working penetration: Key performance indicators of a grease include penetration and dropping point. The cone penetration refers to the depth of unit mass of grease pressed vertically under a conical drill bit. It is usually expressed as 10 times the cone penetration, and the unit is 0.1mm. The greater the cone penetration, the softer the grease and the better the lubricating performance, but it should not be too soft, otherwise it will easily cause leakage or loss.

In addition to cone penetration and dropping point, other performance indicators of grease include extreme pressure performance, anti-wear performance, anti-corrosion performance, etc. These indicators have different requirements for different types of mechanical equipment. ‌This is an important indicator of grease consistency and hardness. ‌Cone penetration is the depth at which a cone of a certain mass is released from the cone penetration meter at 25°C and ‌penetrates into the sample to be measured after falling within 5 seconds. ‌According to the size of the taper penetration, ‌the grease is divided into different grades to adapt to different working conditions and filling methods.

Dropping Point: The dropping point is the temperature at which grease begins to drip after being heated. The higher the dropping point of the grease, the better its high-temperature resistance, and it is suitable for mechanical equipment in high-temperature environments. However, an excessively high dropping point will also cause the grease to have a higher viscosity, affecting its lubrication effect in low-temperature environments. ‌The grease is heated under specified conditions. ‌The grease becomes softer as the temperature increases. ‌The temperature of the first drop dropped from the grease cup is the dropping point. ‌The dropping point is a rough measure of the maximum service temperature of a grease. ‌Generally speaking,‌the maximum temperature limit of grease should be 30~50℃ lower than its dropping point.

Colloidal stability (oil separation): This refers to the grease's ability to retain oil in its thickener skeleton under the action of external forces. ‌When the oil separation amount of the grease exceeds a certain proportion, ‌basically cannot be used. ‌

Oxidation stability: ‌Refers to the ability to resist oxidation during storage and use. ‌

Mechanical stability: ‌Refers to the ability to resist changes in consistency under mechanical working conditions. ‌Poor mechanical stability can easily lead to a decrease in grease consistency. ‌

Evaporation loss: refers to the percentage of the total amount of grease lost under specified conditions. It is an important factor affecting the service life of grease. ‌

Water resistance: refers to the ability to not dissolve in water, not absorb moisture from the surrounding medium, and not be washed away by water. ‌

Similar viscosity: ‌Refers to the ratio of shear stress and shear speed when non-Newtonian fluid flows. ‌The viscosity is low when the rotation speed is high, and vice versa. ‌‌

Grease is a lubricating material widely used in mechanical equipment. It can reduce friction and wear between mechanical parts and extend the service life of mechanical equipment. The performance indicators of grease are an important basis for measuring its lubrication effect. In general, the performance indicators of grease are an important reference for evaluating its quality and applicability. When selecting a suitable grease, it is necessary to consider the working conditions and lubrication requirements of the mechanical equipment and comprehensively evaluate its performance indicators to achieve the best lubrication effect. These indicators jointly determine the performance and application range of grease. Choosing the right grease is crucial to protecting the normal operation of mechanical equipment.