513E

Lubrication
Glossary

Glossary
Term Description
Base oil is the base ingredient of lubricating oil and grease. It is the component that determines
features such as the viscosity of the lubricant. Mineral oil obtained by refi ning crude oil in-
Base oil
cludes paraffin-based and naphthene-based oils. Synthetic oils obtained by chemical synthesis
can also be used as the base ingredient of synthetic lubricants.
Consistency enhancers are used to turn base oils semi-solid. They can be broadly split into two
types, namely soap-based types and non-soap-based types.
(1) Soap-based types:
Calcium, sodium, or lithium salts from high-grade fatty acids—the main components of
animal fats and oils—are the most commonly used consistency enhancers. There are also
some that use complex soaps as consistency enhancers.
Consistency enhancer
(2) Non-soap-based types:
For greases that require heat resistance, there are types that use inorganic matter such as
bentone or silica gel as the main component, and types that use organic matter with heat-
resistant properties such as urea compounds and fluorine compounds. These tend to be
used more than soap-based types in high operating temperatures, as they contain no me-
tallic elements and will not oxidize metal parts.
Additives are used for improving special functions required of the grease. These can be added,
as required, in the same way as general-use lubricants, and they include antioxidants, rust-
Additives
proofing agents, extreme pressure agents, oiling agents, structural stability agents, and solid
lubricants.
Lithium soap-based grease is a general-purpose grease used for the widest range of products
and applications. It is used in general industries, automobiles, various types of bearings, and
Lithium soap-based grease home appliances. Using mineral oil or synthetic oil in conjunction with a lithium soap with hy-
(Soap-based grease) drogenated fatty acid-derived castor oil or lithium stearate as a consistency enhancer allows for
use over a wide temperature range and provides excellent water resistance and shear stability
properties.
Lithium complex grease uses soap such as that made by reacting fatty acids and dibasic acid
Lithium complex grease with lithium hydroxide as a consistency enhancer. This gives a dropping point of at least 260℃,
(Soap-based grease) and excellent heat, water, and corrosion resistance. It can be used under higher temperatures
than lithium grease.
Urea grease is a grease containing organic compounds with two or more urea groups (-NH-
CO-NH-) that is generally used as a consistency enhancer. Its excellent heat and water resis-
Urea grease tance allows it to be used in everything from rolling mills to continuous casting equipment for
(Non-soap-based grease)
steel manufacturers. Urea grease is a common non-soap-based grease. It is also widely used
in automobiles and electrical components.

Accessories for Lubrication

The base oil kinematic viscosity represents the viscosity of the base oil. Its value is derived
from measuring the magnitude of the internal resistance of the base oil. The higher the base oil
Base oil kinematic viscosity kinematic viscosity, the higher the viscosity level. The smaller the value, the lower the viscosity
(JIS K 2220 23)
level. For lubricating oils, the SI units are expressed in terms of mm2/s (40℃) = cSt. cSt (=1×
10-6m2/s) is also generally used.
The worked penetration represents the hardness of the grease. The higher the worked pen-
etration value, the more pliable the grease. The lower the value, the harder the grease. This
consistency level is obtained directly after keeping the grease at 25℃ with a regulated mixer
and then mixing it back and forth 60 times. NLGI* consistency numbers are classified accord-
ing to the worked penetration value.
* NLGI: National Lubricating Grease Institute
Worked penetration NLGI No. and Worked Penetration Value
(JIS K 2220 7)
NLGI No. Worked penetration Status
No.00 400 to 430 Semi-fluid state
No.0 355 to 385 Extremely pliable
No.1 310 to 340 Pliable
No.2 265 to 295 Moderate
No.3 220 to 250 Slightly hard

Mixing stability represents the mechanical stability of grease. This consistency is

Mixing stability obtained by working the grease 100,000 times with a regulated mixer, keeping it at
(JIS K 2220 15)
25℃, and then mixing another 60 times.

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 513E

Term Description
Dropping point The dropping point represents the temperature at which grease melts and begins to flow. (It is
(JIS K 2220 8) not the operating temperature limit.) It serves as a guide for heat resistance.
The evaporation amount represents the volume of oil in the grease lost to evaporation when
the grease is exposed to high temperatures. If there is a high volume of oil lost to evaporation
Evaporation amount when used under high-temperature conditions, the grease becomes more likely to harden and
(JIS K 2220 10) thus may become ineffective as a lubricant. The evaporation amount is calculated by leaving
the grease in a bath at a specified temperature (99℃) for 22 hours and then comparing the
volume both before and after the test.
The oil separation rate represents the level of oil floating on the surface of the grease when the
grease is left for a long period. When heat and force (gravity, pressure, and centrifugal forces)
Oil separation rate act upon grease, the consistency enhancer becomes unable to hold the base oil and partially
(JIS K 2220 11)
separates from it. This phenomenon is called oil separation. High levels of separation impact
the life of mechanical components due to depletion of the lubricant.
Copper plate corrosion is determined by immersing a copper plate in grease, and then check-
Copper plate corrosion ing whether the copper plate changes color or not after it is left at a specified temperature for a
(JIS K 2220 9)
set length of time. It is mainly a guide for determining the presence of corrosive sulfur.
Low-temperature torque represents the increased torque of bearings when grease becomes
hard in low temperatures. The starting and rotational torque of bearings are measured in low-
temperature baths; the lower the value, the greater the fluidity in low temperatures.
Torque measuring
instrument
Motor
Low-temperature torque Cold basin
(JIS K 2220 18) (-20℃)

Bearing

4-ball testing (welding load) indicates the level of load-bearing capacity for grease. Four steel
balls with the same dimensions are used to build a pyramid shape, the bottom three balls are
fixed together and immersed in the sample solution, and the top ball is pressed down and ro-
tated.
Rotation
4-ball testing
(Welding load) Fixed
sphere Rotating
(ASTM D2596) sphere
Grease

Load
The viscosity index represents the relationship between the viscosity and temperature of
Viscosity index
grease. The greater the value, the less change in viscosity due to temperature.
The oxidation stability indicates the levels of oxidative degradation when grease reacts with
oxygen in the air. The oxidation causes the grease to become more likely to liquefy as the
consistency enhancer becomes unable to maintain the base oil. It also causes increased vis-
Oxidation stability cosity of the base oil and the generation of corrosive substances, etc. The value is obtained
by heating the grease to 99℃ within a cylinder at an oxygen pressure of 0.755 MPa, recording
the pressure drops at set intervals, and then measuring how much the pressure has decreased
after 100 hours.

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